How to Prep a Room for Painting: Step by Step Guide for Beginners

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Painting a room can be an enjoyable experience, as long as you plan ahead and make sure that the room is prepared beforehand. If you are wondering how to prep a room for painting, it’s actually not that difficult. You simply need to follow a process step by step, in the same way, that painting contractors do.

During the process, you need to consider what wall painting ideas you have, what your budget is, and what materials you need. You may also find it useful to research how to paint a room for beginners so that you are fully prepared for the task ahead. Then, you need to start on the physical preparation of the room.

Plan the Work Ahead

The first stage of prepping a room for painting is to plan ahead. You need to plan your budget, so that you do not let costs spiral out of control. You also need to work out a color scheme, so that you can include getting the right paint in your preparations. If you are looking for inspiration for wall painting color schemes you can check for some ideas online.

Make Sure That All Materials Are In Place

The last thing you want to happen, once you start painting, is to have to stop to go looking for materials. When you are preparing the room, you should make sure that you have the following materials to hand.

  • Paint
  • Different-sized brushes, so that you can finish off edges
  • Paint roller
  • Paint tray
  • Masking tape
  • Drop cloth
  • Ladder. Never be tempted to stand on furniture instead because it’s dangerous to do so.

Remove Furniture From the Room

Furniture will get in the way when you paint, and it may also get covered in paint accidentally. This is why you should remove furniture from the room before you paint, if possible. If you are moving heavy furniture, get someone to help and do so in the right way.

When you are working on how to prep a room for painting, you may find that you have nowhere to move furniture too. In this case, you should move the furniture away from the area where you are painting. The middle of the room will often be the best place to put it. You should then cover the furniture with plastic.

Should I Cover Floors Where Painting is Taking Place?

It’s possible to try and get paint off a wooden floor or a carpet. However, the best thing to do is protect the floor before you start painting. You simply need to place a drop cloth on the floor and secure it in place using masking tape. Make sure that you cover the entire floor.

How to Loosen and Tape Electrical Switches?

There is no easy way to go about wall painting without protecting electrical switches first. If you do not do this, you will not be able to paint right up to the switches without getting paint on them.

The best way to paint a wall where there are electrical switches present is to.

  • Turn off the electricity.
  • Loosen the electrical switch covers.
  • Protect the edges of all switches with masking tape.

Doing this means that you take care of electrical safety while also making sure that your painting is tidy and does not cover electrical switches.

How Can I Protect Windows and Doors?

It’s not just electrical switches that need to be protected when you are painting a room. You also need to protect doors and windows. You may eventually want to paint the door to a room but not at the same time as the walls. So, the door needs to be protected against accidental painting.

Before you tape doors and windows to protect them, you should make sure that they are free from dirt and dust and that the surface is dry. Then, you can apply masking tape to the area that you want to protect. Remember that you need to make sure that the tape is placed right against the surface where you are going to be painting. It’s also a good idea to use several small pieces of tape rather than one long one. This helps to avoid stretching the tape and creating gaps.

This is how to prep a room for painting. It’s an important part of how to paint a room for beginners. This is because making sure that the room is prepared in the right way gives you a better chance of painting the room successfully. You should also remember to give yourself plenty of time to finish the work. This is important as it means that you are less likely to rush the work and make mistakes. Instead, you can take your time and make sure that you do a good job. If you are not sure, whether you can make it alone, you can always refer to home remodeling contractors near you.

Perfect Kitchen Layout And Floor Plan Ideas

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How to layout a kitchen floor plan is a central part of kitchen remodeling. The shape of your new kitchen remodels floor plan will define how you get around the kitchen during everyday use, as well as how guests will be accommodated while entertaining. 

There are a few common types of kitchen layout:

U-Shaped Kitchen 

U-shaped kitchens are arranged around 3 of a room’s four walls, leaving an open side to the kitchen to connect to a dining area or living space. These provide a functional and efficient work area with plenty of counter space and easy access to essential appliances like the oven and refrigerator. 

U-shaped kitchens are great for preparing large meals with plenty of room for you to cook while also feeling part of the rest of the room, thanks to the open area between cooking and dining space.

L-Shaped Kitchen

L-shaped kitchens are flexible types of kitchen layouts fitted into the corner of a room. They are great for making the most of a smaller room or for kitchens that form part of the living space. 

L-shaped kitchen layouts leave an open space in the center of the room that you don’t need to access while cooking. This can be a spot to put the family table close to where meals are cooked and ensures the cook stays part of the conversation when entertaining guests. Alternatively, this area can be used as extra storage space or a kitchen island for an additional counter surface.

Whatever your remodel floor plan is, L-shaped kitchen layouts are rarely the wrong choice.

G-Shaped Kitchen 

G-shaped kitchens are very similar to U-shaped kitchens. In addition to the 3 sides of a U-shaped kitchen, G-shaped kitchens also feature a peninsular that extends partway across the open side of the kitchen. These can take up more space than other remodel floor plans but provide more freedom in terms of work surfaces. 

Furthermore, the kitchen peninsula has a multitude of uses as a social space throughout the day. It can function as a breakfast bar, provide a spot for guests to enjoy snacks and drinks while you prepare a meal, or enable other family members to sit and finish up their work while you cook.

Floor for kitchen

Straight & Simple Kitchen

The simplest type of kitchen layout, usually installed in smaller spaces, consists of cabinets and appliances against only one side of the room. These kitchen layouts will often use upper cabinets and other wall-mounted storage such as shelving to maximize space efficiency. 

This simple kitchen floor design keeps your cooking area within a narrow space, leaving the rest of the room open for use as a dining or living room. As a result, while it is commonly used as a space-saving measure, it can also aid in achieving a more open remodel floor plan in your home.

Corridor Type Kitchen 

A corridor kitchen, also known as a galley kitchen, is also relatively simple. Instead of having cabinets against one wall, there are cabinets on both sides with a corridor, or galley, in between. These maximize the use of space for work surfaces and storage, particularly in a smaller room; however, if the central corridor is too narrow, it can be difficult for multiple people to cook or use the kitchen simultaneously.

Tips For Your Kitchen Flooring 

There is a lot to consider when it comes to kitchen flooring in a remodel floor plan. The practical concerns of durability and ease of cleaning are just as important as the aesthetics here. 

Stone, ceramic, and porcelain floors are all highly durable and easy to clean, although some extra maintenance to reseal natural stone flooring may be needed every few years. Wood is excellent for creating a more homely, traditional kitchen look. However, it is a little less resistant to wear and tear than stone and will need to be adequately treated and maintained to prevent warping due to water.

It is a good idea to pick your kitchen flooring while choosing the color scheme for your cabinets and work surfaces. This way, you can select a floor that matches or contrasts against the colors and kitchen countertop materials used elsewhere. For example, you might choose to match hardwood countertops with matching wood floorboards or pair dark cabinets with a white tiled floor for a stark visual contrast.

Maximize Space Usage 

Think about how to layout a kitchen floor plan that will make the best use of the space you have available. 

As a general rule, kitchen islands and peninsulas, as well as corner cabinets, use space less efficiently than straight cabinets against a wall. Islands and peninsulas, in particular, can be an excellent addition to a kitchen when you have space, but when you don’t, they occupy central floor space while giving less opportunity for storage space than wall cabinets which can be paired with an upper cabinet and shelving.

For narrow spaces, a straight or galley kitchen efficiently uses the length of the room to maximize the area you have to cook. In wider rooms, a U-shaped kitchen or G-shaped kitchen plan makes better use of the width, potentially leaving enough room for a table or island in the center. 

L-shaped kitchen layouts are good for kitchens of any size and are particularly useful for reducing the footprint of your kitchen in an open-plan home.

kitchen floor and layout

Adjust to the Traffic 

Kitchen Traffic Flow is an important consideration when picking a layout. In particular, the placement of doors in the room could preclude you from using certain types of kitchen layouts. For example, U-shaped kitchens and G-shaped kitchens require at least 2 walls without doors for a significant length and at least one wall with none. 

If your kitchen is an important path through your home leading to an entrance or living space, keeping the work areas in a corner with an L-shaped layout can prevent other family members from getting in your way as they pass through. If this is not possible, arranging appliances and work surfaces to avoid crossing that path as much as possible will improve the traffic flow through your kitchen.

In a narrow kitchen that leads to an exit such as the door to the yard, keeping all work areas to one side with a straight kitchen makes it easier for people to pass behind you while you are cooking, instead of bumping into you as you cross sides.

Use 3D Visualization

Online kitchen tools and software can provide you with a 3D visualization of kitchen layouts and designs. These let you get a good idea of how your kitchen will look and quickly alter the layout and color scheme to test out your ideas. Take the time to get the measurements, light placement, and color scheme as accurate as possible within the visualizer to get the best impression of how your proposed kitchen layout will really look.

Kitchen Floor Mistakes To Avoid 

The kitchen floor is one of the most inconvenient and expensive parts of a kitchen remodeling to replacing, so save you the trouble and get it right the first time by avoiding these mistakes:

Using the Floor Too Soon 

Depending on the type of flooring, it may be a few days before you can even walk on your new floor without risking damage, let alone installing any furniture or appliances. If someone is installing the floor for you, follow their advice on how long to wait, and if you are doing it yourself then research how long to wait for the materials and method you are using.

Cutting Costs On Labor

If you are a DIY pro and certain you know what you are doing then go ahead but otherwise, you’ll want to pay for a top-quality contractor. Ensuring that a kitchen floor remains safe and structurally sound is a complex task, and going with the cheapest contractor is likely to cost more in the long run when you end up paying someone else to do it properly.

Ignoring Workflows

Your kitchen workflow describes how you move around the kitchen between appliances and work areas. Design a kitchen without considering this, and you might find it inconvenient and inefficient to cook in your new layout. 

The easiest way to approach this is to imagine a triangle with each point placed at your stovetop, sink, and refrigerator. Each leg of the triangle should be unobstructed and if possible, not cross any foot traffic through the room. Each leg should be around 3-8 feet. 

Expert Communication

Clear communication with your contractors is vital to ensure the end result is exactly what you were expecting. It is common for kitchen layouts to require small alterations during installation, for example, due to wiring or plumbing positioned in an unexpected way. Even for the smallest changes, make sure you get a full new plan that accommodates the changes and provides it to all contractors involved. A verbal agreement to make a change may not get passed on, resulting in some work not accounting for the alteration.

Conclusion 

There is a lot to think about when designing your perfect kitchen layout. A kitchen floor plan built to suit your family and lifestyle can be a huge improvement to your home. We know how important it is to design a kitchen that is perfect for your family, so get in touch and we’ll be happy to help create the ideal kitchen for your home.

Simple Ways to Elevate Your Kitchen’s Luxury Design

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Turning your kitchen into a luxury space does not necessarily mean a total overhaul of the room. There are plenty of smaller changes and simple kitchen updates you can make to introduce luxury kitchen design ideas into your home. If you are looking to refresh your kitchen with a few quick changes, but don’t want the hassle of a total refurbishment, try these simple ideas to create a luxury kitchen․

How To Elevate Your Kitchen Cabinets?

Kitchen cabinets are a core component of the room’s aesthetic. With a few exceptions for some room shapes, they usually cover most of the walls and occupy a lot of the view wherever you look. When updating your kitchen to have a more luxurious look, a new kitchen cabinet installation should be one of the first things to consider for an upgrade.

If you are aiming to make some simple kitchen updates that don’t break the bank, you don’t need to go as far as installing a completely new set of cabinets. Refacing or refinishing your old cabinets can give your kitchen a completely new look and feel without changing the existing layout.

Purchase New High-Quality Appliances

Mismatched or worn-out appliances can really bring down the look of an otherwise beautiful kitchen. If you are updating the color scheme or style of your luxury kitchen design, your old appliances might not fit in with the new aesthetic. It can be a good idea to go shopping for new appliances once you have already updated the other parts of your kitchen, as having the new lighting, cabinets, and decorations in the room can really help inspire the styles of appliances you go with.

Build a Pantry

Creating a pantry is an easy luxury kitchen idea to pull off on almost any room shape. You don’t need to set aside space for a walk-in pantry either, there are plenty of simple ways to build a pantry in even a small kitchen. For example:

  • Repurpose an old bookshelf
  • Add shelving or a pegboard to an empty wall space
  • Build recessed shelving into the wall cavity
  • Remove the doors from a pair of wall cabinets to be refurbished as shelving

Consider Adding Marble Designs

Marble is a classic, timeless way to give any kitchen more of a luxury look. It is also very robust and will look great for many years to come. Marble countertops can complement a light, neutral color scheme or contrast against dark highlights or cabinets. Marble works great as floor or wall tiling and as a backsplash material as well as one of the timeless countertop materials, although going for marble everything can give your kitchen a monotone feel.

If you don’t want to commit to the characteristics of marble countertops, you can also add them to your kitchen in the form of other kitchen tools and crockery. Here are a few ideas to add some marble highlight pieces to your kitchen:

  • Serving trays
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Paper towel holders
  • Seasoning and shakers tray
  • Cutting block

Marble table tops also look great, but practicality is also a consideration. Marble is very heavy, and sooner or later you will need to move that table. Besides being a pain to move, the sheer weight of a marble table could damage your flooring as it scrapes around.

How to Incorporate a Chandelier into Your Kitchen?

Adding a chandelier is another classic luxury kitchen design idea, especially if your kitchen includes a dining or bar area. The right chandelier can do a lot to elevate your kitchen from feeling like a purely functional space to one that your family and guests can relax and enjoy.

While a chandelier can act as a centerpiece to the room, don’t let it dominate the space. Keep its size appropriate to the rest of the room and the height of the ceiling. If the chandelier will be hung directly above a table or kitchen island you can bring it down lower to keep it in view while you are dining, but make sure your taller family members and guests won’t be ducking under it during dinner.

Should You Add Pieces of Art to Your Kitchen?

Adding some art pieces to the room is often an overlooked way to create a luxury kitchen design. Hanging some pictures or paintings on the walls is an obvious place to start with this if you can afford to dedicate the wall space to it.

If not, ornaments such as vases and sculptures can be a more flexible way to bring art into the room. Depending on the size of the room, these could be placed on countertops, in the corners of the room, or along the tops of wall cabinets and window sills. Don’t clutter the place with too many pieces though, as this can give your kitchen more of a homely, lived-in look than a luxury feel.

Splashes, spills, and stains are always a possibility in even the tidiest cook’s kitchen, so this is definitely something to bear in mind, particularly when decorating around the stovetop and other common spill areas. You should absolutely put glass over any valuable paintings before installing them in your kitchen.

Upgrade Your Lighting

Chandeliers are certainly not the only option when it comes to upgrading your kitchen to achieve more of a luxurious look, and they are not suitable for every kitchen. Here are a few more luxury kitchen design ideas for lighting that you might not have considered:

  • Industrial pendant lighting
  • Billiards-style pendant lighting
  • Polished cage pendants

Besides overhead lighting, put some thought into any countertop lighting that your kitchen contains. As counter lighting is often hidden beneath your wall cabinets, many kitchen designs stick to simple, functional LED strip lighting, but taking the extra effort to stylize this feature can really elevate your kitchen, for example using brass sconces or rows of Edison bulbs to give the lighting a moody, vintage feel.

Conclusion

There are plenty of simple kitchen updates you can make that don’t take a lot of time or effort to make, as well as some that we recommend getting professional help with. This is definitely the case when it comes to replacing or refurbishing your kitchen cabinets. As such a prominent feature of any kitchen, making sure their design and fitting are completely perfect is essential for achieving the luxury kitchen design of your dreams.

We not only provide top-quality, reliable tradespeople to install and refurbish your kitchen cabinets, but we can also help you plan out your kitchen remodeling.

Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile: What is the Difference?

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When you are planning to choose a tile to use in your bathroom or elsewhere in your home, then you will be wondering whether you should go for Porcelain vs Ceramic tiles? So, which is better – porcelain or ceramic tile?

In this guide, we’ll be answering some of your questions about tiles and weighing up the differences in porcelain and ceramic tiles. It’s all about matching up your own unique needs and deciding which of the tiles is the best for your project.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CERAMIC AND PORCELAIN TILE

How can you even tell the difference between the two?

Interestingly, there isn’t that much difference in porcelain vs ceramic tiles. Both are made in the same way as they were thousands of years ago, with a few little tweaks. They start off as clay, and are cooked at incredibly high temperatures as this removes the water and makes it harder. Not much has changed in the way tiles are made.

There are some differences though, and you can tell by looking at the tiling.

Ceramic tends to have a softer appearance that looks like clay, and because it is not as hard as porcelain it is much easier to cut. There also tend to be more varieties and the material is lighter to the touch.

Porcelain has more distinctive markings coming from the process of making it. It won’t absorb water so easily and it is heavy to the touch.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of porcelain and ceramic tiles is crucial when choosing the right tile for the bathroom or kitchen, or maybe the living room as it helps in planning the budget for your project.

THE PROS AND CONS OF PORCELAIN TILES

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of porcelain tiles to help you understand whether they are suitable for you.

Cost: Porcelain is a little more expensive than ceramic. In general this is because it takes more to make it and it is heavier to transport. You’ll need to weigh this up against how much you need the extra durability on offer.

Maintenance: If anything goes wrong with the tiling it will probably cost you more to repair than other types of tile, but porcelain itself is low maintenance when it comes to cleaning and needing to make repairs.

Foot traffic: Porcelain can handle foot traffic better in areas where water might be present. For instance, if you are looking to tile in a bathroom it is less porous and therefore won’t absorb the water. Just make sure you take anti-slip precautions. It’s also incredibly durable so in an area where there are a lot of people walking, it is unlikely to wear over time as much as other tiles.

Installation: The installation of porcelain is tougher than ceramic. Tiles are harder to cut, harder to transport, and you will likely be quoted a much higher price for porcelain tile installation than for ceramic tiles.

Durability: This is a definite ‘pro’. The hardness of the porcelain tile means that it is incredibly durable. Once installed, these tiles should last you a very long time and survive the majority of the time when things are dropped on them, for instance. They can also handle high traffic.

THE PROS AND CONS OF CERAMIC TILES

Let’s compare and contrast those features to the pros and cons of ceramic tiles so you can make your decision.

  • Cost: Ceramic tiles tend to be significantly cheaper than porcelain tiles. They don’t take as long to make so the manufacturing process doesn’t dictate a higher price. There also tend to be lots of different styles that you can choose between.
  • Maintenance: Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are low-maintenance in terms of day-to-day use. It may be that occasionally a repair might be needed, but this is not commonplace, and it is easier with ceramic tiles than it would be with porcelain.
  • Foot traffic: Ceramic tiles can handle some foot traffic but not as well as porcelain tiles which are more durable. These tiles are also often used as decorative elements such as feature walls.
  • Installation: The installation of ceramic tiles is definitely a big “pro”. They’re lighter, easier to transport, and far easier to cut to the correct size. The process of installation is relatively pain-free compared to some other types of tile.
  • Durability: The durability of a ceramic tile is not necessarily a “con” but it is not quite as impressive as porcelain. Ceramic is not flimsy, but it is slightly less durable.

WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE FOR YOUR HOUSE: CERAMIC VS PORCELAIN?

Choosing ceramic vs porcelain tiles is not necessarily difficult. Weigh up all of the factors above and think carefully about where the tiles will be. For instance, ceramic might be fine for a decorative wall elsewhere in the house, and much easier to install.

Ceramic tiling is significantly cheaper, but if you need a more durable option then it is not going to be enough for your home, and you are much better off trying to opt for porcelain in this scenario. It is all about matching up your needs to the type of tile.

When you will finally choose the type of tile that matches your needs, make sure to hire a professional who works with that type. Contact our tiling pros for your Las Vegas project. Our tiling contractors have significant experience in working both with porcelain and ceramic tiles.

How To Organize Bathroom Cabinets: Trendy & Functional

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In this guide, we’re exploring how to organize bathroom cabinets in a way that is functional, trendy, and keeps everything necessary within easy grasp in your bathroom. Whether you like the look of baskets with towels and other bathroom items on display, or you’d rather keep things neatly hidden away, you can make this choice yourself with some storage solutions.

These are the sort of jobs you probably won’t think very much about when you first decorate, but it’s a good idea to try and incorporate some tactics to make the best use of your space and to create both a great look and fit more into your kitchen without making it look cluttered. Of course, clutter looks like a mess to most of us, but fortunately, A bathroom is rarely designed to be ample space within the house. Space is much better utilized being part of a bedroom. This means that you should look to make use of all the tiny little holes spaces within your bathroom.

Many of us have space under the sink, and an under sink organizer can be an ideal space for storage products and disposable items such as toilet tissue to be stored. If you keep this sort of thing on display in your bathroom, there’s not much point in decorating it in the first place. Even if you have a beautiful design and finally decided on some stunning bathroom color ideas, you need to make sure it is displayed. The ideas we provide are great for small bathrooms and not only. Having clutter is just going to end up detracting from your beautiful painting.

You can also use cabinet doors, and even specific storage units to hide things out of sight. Why not add a mirror with cupboard storage space to put some of your items within? During bathroom remodeling, you can add these clever additions. It gives you that extra bit of space to keep things out of sight but still convenient to use. A lot of people use these as meditation, as a clean house supports your mental health.

Add Hooks for Your Tools 

You might not have vast amounts of tools in your bathroom, but many people have things like squeegees for cleaning. You can add hooks for these, so they aren’t taking up valuable cabinet space. Hooks are also standard for things like gowns and even towels. This is one of the best small bathroom tools for those who need to make use of a tiny little space and still store a lot of items they use daily in their bathroom.

Divide Your Drawers

There’s really no point in exploring how to organize bathroom cabinets if you’re not going to actually go to some effort to give everything a home. The drawer space that you have in the bathroom should not be wasted. Your cabinets can be divided in any way you wish, but it is a good idea to use actual drawer dividers to split the space in each. 

organizing a bathroom cabinet

What’s the point in this? Well, it avoids the problem a lot of us have, which is just shoving things in drawers and forgetting about them. It’s easy to just put something in a drawer when you’ve used it and not think about it again for months. This is how drawers get disorganized, and it is hard to find the things you need. If you’re the sort of person with drawers full to bursting all over your kitchen and bathroom, you probably need to accept that things like dividers are vital. Ultimately, it makes your life a little easier. The same can be said of the countertop space that is within your room. A bathroom counter organizer is a great way to separate your makeup from your soap, your cleaning products, and your nail clippers.   

Practice Makes Perfect

You might not get all of your organization perfect the first time. If you’re not good at organizing your bathroom naturally, then you might find that you have stored things in some places that don’t make much sense. There’s nothing wrong with spending a rainy Sunday rearranging the bathroom so that it looks right and it is easy to find everything you need.

The sort of people who like to be organized will have no problem practicing this by organizing different rooms of the house. It’s incredible how much extra space you can have if you manage to store things in suitable spaces.

bathroom functional organization

Hang a Shower Caddy

Shower caddies can look great; specific models can add some decor to your bathroom. Go for a vintage look or something that has a more modern look, depending on what suits the design of your bathroom.

A shower caddy also has a particular purpose; it doesn’t matter if things get wet! If you’re looking for somewhere to store your shampoo or shower gel or even moisturizer, it doesn’t matter if it gets wet on the caddy, as it will just dry out. This is why many of them have grates underneath to let water drain. One part of knowing how to organize bathroom cabinets is knowing that you need an area where things can get wet, and it does, of course, matter! You don’t want to put your shower gel in a wooden cabinet after every use.

A shower caddy also makes use of a space that otherwise wouldn’t be used. The shower doesn’t have anywhere you can store things, but you can hang a caddy, and some of these are surprisingly big, ideal for storing any plastic bottles.

Buy Specific Holders and Hangers

As well as thinking about how to organize bathroom cabinets, you can add some specific holders and hangers. A lot of your bathroom items, besides those stored in a shower caddy, can also be stored in their holders. This is a way to make things neater while leaving valuable space in your cabinets.

You can buy holders and hangers assets, or alternatively use baskets, which can provide the ideal space for you to store things like towels and facecloths.

Labeling is Key  

If you are an organization fanatic, then you can use labeling to help with your bathroom. This is good for your storage and knowing where you need to keep things organized, but it is also fantastic for any visitors. If someone wants to know where they’re going to find some fresh soap in the bathroom, for instance, labeling can help.

We’re not suggesting that sticky labels visible everywhere are how to organize bathroom cabinets the most effectively. It’s better to use them discreetly. Why not use the labels on the bottom of the shelves within your bathroom cabinets?

Conclusion

When you take the time out to organize your bathroom cabinets, you’ll probably realize a few things about your current storage solutions. For one, you might well find that there are a lot of different things in your bathroom that simply don’t need to be. Having a good clearout is a way to make sure that you can only keep the essentials within grasp, and you don’t have a tiny amount of perfume you don’t use anymore, taking up space in your cabinets. And if you need to refresh your cabinets or just a small fix, contact us for the cabinet repair. 

There are many different methods to allow you to get an organized result. Our tips can help you to create a more functional bathroom, but also one that looks far better to you and your guests! Keep all those sensitive products out of sight, and allow people to enjoy the incredible remodel you’ve just had or the stunning design and decor in your bathroom.

The Difference Between Commercial and Residential Construction

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If you don’t know much about construction it can be easy to assume that each construction company does a very similar thing. This isn’t necessarily the case, as well as having their own specialties, commercial and residential construction companies have some key differences in their definitions and their processes.

In this article, we’re looking at some of the differences between residential construction and commercial construction. Understanding the differences can help you to choose which construction company you plan to work with and learn a little more about this complicated industry.

Is the Scale and Complexity of the Work the Same in Commercial and Residential Construction?

Commercial construction companies often have more of an infrastructure that allows them to work on some very large projects. For instance, if you are working with a residential company it may be that they can only make changes that impact a regular home. Most houses are in some ways similar, and there isn’t a huge difference between the projects a residential building or construction company will undertake.

On the other hand, commercial construction companies are often called upon for complicated projects from shopping malls to cinemas to stadiums. A residential building contractor or construction company is not going to be in a position to help with these larger and more complex projects.

Do Commercial and Residential Construction Differ in Price?

Obviously, the price that your construction company charges you will depend on what sort of work you need to be carried out. A small bathroom repair in a mall will probably cost less than major renovations of a residential property. However, generally speaking, commercial properties are likely to involve far more of an undertaking and significant price hikes for getting it done. A commercial construction company will usually charge more for their more specialist knowledge and the fact they tend to work on larger contracts.

Is Strategy and Work Pace the Same for Commercial and Residential Construction?

Commercial construction companies often have a team in place for their more complex projects to assist with planning and strategy. The projects they are working on, usually being larger, may take a lot longer than residential properties, but with bigger teams working on the construction project, they can sometimes be surprisingly fast. A good construction company should always be able to estimate how long a job will take.

Keep in mind that, particularly with a commercial building, the company may need to get in some specialist help, whether subcontracted or otherwise.

When thinking about the time taken to work on a residential property, sometimes companies have to factor in the fact that people may still be living there. This is true of many renovations and repairs, rather than any sort of new build.

What Materials and Equipment are used in Commercial and Residential Construction?

Again, there is an element of generalizing here, but it is normally the case that a commercial construction company will have access to materials and equipment which are different from those that a residential company regularly uses. They may need equipment to scale higher, for instance, than companies working in a residential setting. A residential company is unlikely to work on a skyscraper, for instance, whereas a commercial company may have to.

There will always be something of overlap with the materials, but the companies tend to only have access to materials and equipment they need to do their job effectively, and this is an often smaller scale for residential projects.

Do You Need Permits For Commercial and Residential Construction?

Working with commercial construction projects takes a huge amount of planning, and this means there are often a lot of permits involved, too. Commercial companies can’t just build what they want, where they want. There is a lot of planning permission and red tape. While there are regulations regarding residential building, too, there is far more when it comes to commercial construction.

For instance, it may be that a commercial project involves shutting public spaces or taking on huge building projects that impact nearby businesses and peoples’ homes. A good commercial construction company will be able to help and advise if you need to obtain permits in order to undertake the work. They should know the relevant permits and how to get them, whereas residential construction companies tend to have a lot less in terms of requirements for the building they carry out as it has less impact on the public.

Top 9 Materials for Kitchen Countertops

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If you’re planning any kind of kitchen remodeling or feel like the time is right to give your kitchen a fresh look, getting some new kitchen countertops installed is a great way to start. Countertops are an essential element of any kitchen installation and have a real impact on the overall look and feel of the space.
However, choosing from the many different types of kitchen countertops can be a challenge. There are a lot of colors, patterns, styles, and kitchen countertop materials for you to pick from, and each one has its pros, cons, and unique features. This guide will cover some of the best kitchen countertop materials, one by one, helping you decide which is right for you.

Granite

granite stone When it comes to kitchen countertop materials, granite is one of the most desirable options out there. Many homeowners opt for granite counters when carrying out a kitchen remodeling or redecorating project, and people love the unique allure and elegance of this material.
Granite is well-known for its unique beauty, able to elevate a kitchen space with ease and transform dull and tired kitchens into pictures of perfection, with its intriguing patterns and strength able to have a truly powerful effect on any room.
It’s also reputed for its high cost, and while prices have come down over the years, it remains one of the more expensive kitchen countertop materials.

Pros:
● Incredible strength and durability
● Won’t be affected by heat
● Can add value to your home
● Lots of colors and patterns
● Minimal maintenance
Cons:
● Comes at a very high cost
● Needs to be installed professionally
● Has to be sealed to reduce the risk of stains

Marble

marble stone

Right up alongside granite as one of the kings of the kitchen countertop world is marble. Beloved throughout history, dating all the way back to ancient times, and instantly recognizable with its unique patterns and silky surface, this material is quite special in more ways than one.
The main benefit of marble is its uniqueness. Every piece is a true ‘one of a kind’ creation, as no two slabs are ever quite the same. This can help to make your kitchen feel equally unique and special too, and many homeowners say that marble is the most luxurious of kitchen countertop types.
However, all of that luxury comes at a price, as marble is also one of the most expensive options, which leads to many homeowners only using a single piece of it for an island or one section of their kitchen.
Pros:
● One of the most beautiful types of kitchen countertop
● Resistant to water and heat
● Every piece is unique
● Adds a lot of value to the home
Cons:
● Lacks the strength of granite and other materials
● Very expensive
● Cannot be installed by the homeowner
● Can stain easily

Quartz

quartz stone Quartz is another hugely popular countertop material, but it’s important to understand exactly what this is, as some people mistake countertop quartz for other kinds of quartz. The countertop material referred to as quartz is actually a man-made material, comprised of around 90% quartz particles, blended together with other minerals and resins. It is not solid quartz, mined from the earth.
However, it’s still a beautiful material, known for its strength, ease of use, and accessibility, and it’s available in a huge range of colors and options too, offering something for homeowners with a wide range of tastes and preferences. It’s also a low-maintenance option, so you won’t need to spend much on the upkeep of quartz countertops.
Pros:
● Can be installed DIY
● Low maintenance
● Lots of color options
● Can be custom-made with ease
● Stain and heat resistant
Cons:
● Can be quite costly to buy
● Heavy and difficult to install
● Lacks the allure of materials like granite or marble

Ceramic Tiles

ceramic countertop Ceramic tiles are another option you might like to consider when planning a kitchen installation or remodeling, and there’s certainly a lot of advantages to this material. For starters, tiles are strong, affordable, and low-maintenance too.
They can be installed by a DIY enthusiast with relative ease, and they’re available in a wide range of colors and patterns, so you can find something that suits the style and theme of your kitchen.
At the same time, ceramic tiles can be seen as a little outdated and are more associated with country-style or rustic kitchens, so won’t necessarily blend in as well in a contemporary home, and they can crack and need to be replaced under pressure.
Pros:
● Many different patterns and colors to choose from
● Good value for money
● Easy to install
● Suitable for DIY installation
● Heat resistant
Cons:
● Can crack due to impacts and accidents
● Grout between tiles may attract dirt
● Not quite as modern as materials like granite or marble

Laminate

laminated hardwood Those who want to save money on their kitchen countertops or simply don’t want to splash out on fancier materials like marble or quartz can choose laminate counters instead. Known for being very affordable, these types of counter are made mostly from MDF, with a laminate veneer bonded around the outside.
The core is cheap and simple to make, helping to keep costs low while still offering strength and durability, and the laminate covers come in a range of different colors and styles. You can even find laminate countertops designed to imitate other materials such as quartz or marble, so this is a cheap way to get that elegant look without having to pay the same price tags.
Pros:
● Lots of different colors and patterns to choose from
● DIY installation is quick and simple
● Excellent value for money
● Low maintenance and easy to clean
Cons:
● Doesn’t have the same prestige or elegance as real granite, marble, etc.
● Won’t increase the value of the home
● Not as soft or smooth as other materials
● Can be chipped or scratched quite easily
● Difficult to repair; usually needs replacing when damaged

Stainless Steel

stainless steel

Stainless steel isn’t one of the first materials people think of when it comes to types of kitchen countertops, and this material has been overlooked and underused over the years, but is starting to see a surge in popularity as the concept of industrial-themed kitchens and homes begins to evolve.
It can be a really impressive choice, adding shimmer, shine, and strength to the kitchen and really serving as a statement piece that may improve your home’s value and turn the heads of any guests or visitors who come to stay.
It’s also well-known for being a very tough and resistant material, able to stand up to heat very well and withstand impacts and pressure too. On the downside, it can be highly expensive and may scratch easily from knives and other implements.
Pros:
● One of the strongest materials for use as kitchen countertops
● Thoroughly resistant to heat
● Works great in modern and industrial style kitchens
● Super easy to clean
● Adds value to the home
Cons:
● Doesn’t work as well in older-themed kitchens
● Can be very expensive
● Easy to scratch so needs to be treated with great care
● Can make noise when used

Wood

wooden countertop Wood is another possible material to consider for anyone wanting to make some changes or upgrades to their kitchen’s aesthetic and theme. It’s a popular choice for other parts of the kitchen, like kitchen cabinets and drawers, and it can work well when used as a countertop surface too.
One of the best things about wood countertops is that they come in a wide range of types. You can choose from maple, oak, and many other species of wood, each with its own colors and grain patterns, and many people feel that wood adds warmth and beauty to a kitchen, working well in country-style or farmhouse kitchens, especially.
It’s also easy to clean and simple to work with when preparing food and cutting up ingredients, but it can scratch, crack, stain, and get damaged quite easily, so you have to treat it with care.
Pros:
● Brings warmth and elegance to space
● Works well in old-fashioned and modern kitchens alike
● Various wood grains and types to choose from
● Can easily be sanded and resealed for repairs
Cons:
● Can be expensive to install and repair over time
● Can easily get stained or water-damaged
● May harbor bacteria so needs to be cleaned thoroughly
● Can scratch or crack

Concrete

concrete countertop Another interesting option you might like to choose for your kitchen countertops is concrete, and there are many advantages to this material, starting with the fact that it’s really resistant to heat, scratches, and general wear and tear.
Concrete countertops can last for many years when looked after, and they can come in a surprisingly vast range of colors and styles too, adding a unique and elegant look to modern and contemporary kitchens.
On the downside, because concrete is such a heavy material, the installation process can be quite tricky as the slabs may need to be cast right there in the kitchen itself.
Pros:
● One of the strongest materials you can use for your kitchen countertops
● Available in a myriad of colors to suit different styles
● Very sleek and modern
● Can withstand heat and scratches very well
Cons:
● Needs to be treated regularly due to its porous nature
● May crack under pressure
● Needs to be installed with a lot of care and precision, which may lead to high costs
● The unique look of this material might not be to everyone’s tastes

Soapstone

soapstone Like many other materials on this list, soapstone is a naturally occurring stone that is famed for its beauty and soft touch. It’s notoriously silky and smooth, being very pleasant to work within the kitchen, and it has plenty in common with granite, being a dark gray in color most of the time and having unique streaks and patterns that add character and definition.
Soapstone is therefore seen as something of a luxury and trendy material for kitchen installation projects, and it has the unique ability to develop an attractive patina over time, which only makes it more attractive and alluring to the eye.
It’s also a tough and resistant material, standing up well to bumps, impacts, and stains, but it can scratch quite easily, so owners have to be careful.
Pros:
● Beautiful color and style adds instant allure to any kitchen space
● Resistant to stains and impacts, so can last for many years
● Won’t be affected majorly by high temperatures
● A fresh alternative to granite for those who want something slightly different
Cons:
● Must be installed professionally to avoid issues
● Has to be treated with mineral oil
● Can scratch quite easily so has to be used with great care and precision
● Can develop a dark patina over time that won’t be to everyone’s taste

How To Upgrade A Bathroom On A Budget?

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You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your bathroom look amazing. You can improve your bathroom and find affordable ways to make your home seem luxurious.

A bathroom redesign doesn’t have to be a major project. Here we have gathered several tips on how to upgrade a bathroom for a more luxurious look. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. Adding some new bathroom features for a splash of personality can be one of the steps you can take toward your bathroom upgrade.

Make The Most of Your Small Bathroom

A small bathroom can be tough to organize things as comfortably as you need as the bathroom serves you for so many things. There are a few tricks to solve storage problems. Clear away space in your bathroom cabinets by using vertical space. Extra hand towels, washcloths, and other small bathroom items can be stored in a wall-mounted rack or storage unit with individual open cubbies. Larger towels can be rolled to fit inside the narrow slots.

You can also use a cabinet under a faucet or use a mirror that doubles up as a cabinet and solve the storage problems. These are quite affordable bathroom solutions to make use of every inch of your small space.

Add Beautiful Patterns With The Tiles

Creating a beautiful pattern with the wall tiles is another affordable bathroom idea to add a sophisticated touch to your existing design.

Using tiles is one of the top and relatively simple ways for bathroom remodeling. You can elevate your bathroom design by using interesting patterns and layout techniques. Our tiling experts will be glad to help you with the installation and create intricate designs and layouts that enhance your bathroom’s decor.

Turn Unsightly Plumbing Into Your Design

If you have pipes and unsightly plumbing in the home, own it! These can look good, polish and treat your pipes and leave metals exposed, it can give a really old-style look in your bathroom and this can look luxurious.

If your plumbing is chrome or bronze, for instance, you can choose accessories that match. Create a color scheme that suits and turn the unsightly plumbing into a design feature. This can provide a classical design.

Choose Statement Flooring Option

Flooring is another one of the bathroom ideas to give a luxury bathroom look and style. One of the bathroom remodel ideas that you can use is to get your flooring replaced. You can make a real statement with this.

Some people opt for exposed wood or laminate flooring when creating a bathroom floor design. However, it isn’t always best to have a wooden flooring design in an environment with so much water. Tiling may be a better option. There are thousands of different tile styles and you can choose a design to match walls and accessories to give a luxury bathroom look.

Tiles can look either modern or classical, and you can choose for your bathroom remodel floor to be either simple or complex, with patterned tiling designs.

Use Accessories As Much As You Can

Accessorize! This is such a simple tool and one of the easiest and inexpensive bathroom upgrade solutions. There’s always a need for accessories in your bathroom, as well as different fixtures and fittings. All of these should fit within a style and give a level of consistency to your bathroom.

Accessories don’t have to cost a huge amount to look luxurious, either. Once you have redesigned the basics such as flooring and fittings, you should think hard about which types of accessories will work. Don’t just throw the old accessories back in, and look at decorations which will complement the design features you already have in place.

White Kitchen Cabinets Flooring Ideas

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If you are planning to refresh your home with some kitchen remodeling, there are a huge number of options when it comes to kitchen flooring ideas. The right kitchen tile flooring for your home depends on several practical factors as well as style. Take a look at the pros and cons of each of these flooring materials to help you decide on the best tile for kitchen flooring in your home:

Hardwood Floors

Although hardwood floors were once seen as a risky choice for kitchens due to the potential for water damage, today’s modern finishes and sealants make it a much more durable option. However, they will need to be resealed every few years or so, depending on the type of wood and sealant used.

Hardwood floors are easy on your feet and can give your kitchen a light and airy feel. It can be damaged more easily than some other flooring types as it can be dented and scratched, but a well-used hardwood floor can give a room a homely, lived-in feel that might appeal to you, especially in a family home. If it does not appeal, one advantage of hardwood is that it can be sanded down and refinished fairly easily to make it look like a brand new floor again.

Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring is made by pressing together composite wood at high temperature, before stamping the appearance and texture of hardwood onto the surface of the laminate. Laminate is cheaper, more durable, and easier to clean than hardwood. High-quality laminate flooring does a good job of looking and feeling like the real thing, but you may notice the difference with time and wear, or spot a repeating pattern in the laminate print.

Tile Flooring

Both ceramic and porcelain tile flooring share several advantages.

Tile flooring is very easy to clean and maintain. It is completely non-porous without the need for resealing or other treatment. As a result, you won’t need to worry about food stains or mud leaving any permanent marks on your flooring. Because of this, how to clean tile floors is as simple as sweeping and mopping, with no extra steps or concerns about stains and moisture. It also will not be damaged by heat or moisture, as long as the grout lines are properly sealed.

Overall, tile flooring offers a wide range of styles and great durability at an affordable cost, making it viable for a wide range of kitchen flooring ideas. The only downside is that tiling can be cold on bare feet and may become slippery when wet depending on the type and texture of the tiles.

Ceramic Flooring

Ceramic tiles are a highly durable material that won’t stain or be damaged by water, and they are extremely hard and unlikely to chip or break when a dropped object hits them. Their main drawback is that they can be a little cold and hard, especially early in the morning when they have been cooling down all night.

Stylistically, ceramic tiles are one of the most flexible options as they can come in a wide range of colors and patterns, and can be made to mimic other materials such as wood, stone, or brick.

Porcelain Flooring

Porcelain tiles are an extra hard type of ceramic tile. They are even more durable and less porous than regular tile flooring. Porcelain flooring shares many of the same benefits as ceramic tiling, including the ability to mimic many other materials. In fact, porcelain is available in a wider range of forms and textures that look like other materials such as natural stone tiling, giving it an advantage over ceramic tiles in this area.

Although it is more long-lasting than other types of tile flooring, porcelain can also be more brittle due to its additional hardness. This means it may shatter or crack under heavy impacts that a ceramic tile might have survived with a minor chip.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is versatile, easy to clean and maintain, and inexpensive, with little to no upkeep costs. It can fade and wear out faster than other materials though and can need to be replaced every ten years or so. It is available as sheets and tiles, and also in more modern forms that can mimic the look and feel of other materials like wood and stone, with less maintenance.

Natural Stones

A natural stone kitchen floor can be durable, long-lasting, and highly attractive. While still a fairly hard surface regardless of the type of stone you choose, natural stone floors can feel softer and warmer underfoot than you might expect, as they tend to retain heat better than ceramic and porcelain.

Common natural stone flooring materials include polished marble, which is one of the most attractive and luxurious flooring options. It can scratch and stain fairly easily, and it may not be the ideal choice for messy cooks or large households with kids.

Slate tiles are also a popular choice. Slate tiles can be smooth and polished, but you can also opt for uneven, roughly textured cleft tiles. These give a kitchen a more rustic look, and also provide extra grip when the floor is wet. Slate is extremely hard and durable, even by the standards of other stone floorings.

Cork Flooring

Cork tile flooring achieves a great balance of comfort and durability. Cork can be dyed almost any color, allowing for a wide range of styles and patterns.

Cork tiles are treated to seal them from moisture, however, this treatment can be damaged with wear, and moisture that finds its way through the sealant may damage the cork or cause mold.

Cork flooring is much warmer than many other types of floor tiles, and also much softer. If comfort is a priority, this might be the best choice of tile for kitchen flooring. This is more comfortable for your feet, and can also reduce the risk of plates and glasses shattering when they are dropped. This softness does also make the floor more prone to damage, however, and it can be a good idea to use pads to protect it from heavy furniture, which may leave indentations. Pet claws can also cause enough damage to the sealant to risk moisture damage, so cork floor tiles may not be suitable for families with cats or dogs.

Conclusion

Take these factors into consideration when picking your new kitchen flooring and you will be sure to have a new kitchen you will love for years to come. No matter what type of flooring you choose, installation is crucial to ensuring your floor looks great and stands the test of time. If you need any help or advice in flooring your new kitchen, contact us for a free consultation.

Laundry room cabinets – tips and ideas

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The laundry room is often one of the most overlooked spaces in the home, but it’s also one of the most functional rooms, responsible for housing your washer and dryer in order to keep your clothes, bedding, and other fabrics clean and fresh. 

It’s also a room that often tends to be on the small side, as people don’t want to use up too much floor space on laundry rooms, so you have to be very economical in terms of how you store all of the different items you need, getting innovative with your laundry room cabinets and storage solutions.

The average laundry room needs to house the actual washer and dryer, of course, but also needs to hold detergent, bleach, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, stain removers, and additional laundry supplies. 

It can also be a good place to store other functional accessories for the home, like spare towels, cleaning rags, cleaning products, ironing equipment, drying racks, laundry bins, and so on. With so much to store, you need to choose the right location, layout, and cabinets for your laundry room.

Where Should the Laundry Room Be in My House?

laundry room cabinets Before we take a closer look at some laundry room storage cabinets ideas and innovations you might like to try, let’s first consider the room itself. If you’re thinking of adding a laundry room to your home or building a new home and trying to find the perfect spot for the laundry room, you might have some questions.

The main thing here is to think practically. Your laundry room needs to be in a part of the house which is easy to access, so you don’t have to carry huge loads of laundry up and down several flights of stairs just to get there. 

It needs to be convenient, and it has to have the proper plumbing and electrical points to cater to the washer and dryer, but you also need to think about the noise of the machines and make sure that they won’t bother people trying to sleep in surrounding rooms. 

You’ll also need to make sure the room is sufficiently spacious to accommodate the machines and other items you want to include, as well as being on a level floor that can support the heavyweight of your appliances.

Taking all of these factors into account, a laundry room can work well on the ground floor of your home, ideally near a kitchen or bathroom to make the plumbing easier to hook up. The basement is also a great location for a laundry room as the floor will be strong and solid and the vibrations of the machines shouldn’t bother anybody.

Laundry Room Cabinets Design, Color, and Type

A lot of people want to make their laundry room look appealing and attractive, but aren’t sure where to start. They may ask, for example, “Should laundry room cabinets match the kitchen cabinets?” or “What color and style is best for laundry cabinets?” 

Ultimately, the important thing to remember here is that your laundry room is yours. It’s up to you to decorate it however you like, in a manner that pleases you and makes you happy. 

If the room is located beside the bathroom or kitchen, you certainly can carry the theme across to maintain a sense of harmony between the spaces, but there’s also nothing wrong with going in a different direction and choosing a fresh and unique color palette for space.

The options are effectively endless for laundry room cabinets, walls, floors, and themes. You can go in any direction you like, but many people tend to like these rooms to feel light, open, and airy, contributing to the clean and fresh vibes associated with washers and dryers in general.

Lighter colors like whites, blues, and grays can therefore be great choices, especially if your laundry room is quite small, as this will help to open the space up and make it seem bigger. 

You can also choose between different styles of laundry room storage cabinets, including sleek and chic modern cabinets with minimalistic designs that work well in contemporary homes or more rustic cabinet doors with wooden features to fit in with more of a country-style property.

Laundry Room Storage Cabinets Ideas and Inspiration

There are a lot of different ways in which you can play around with the look and design of your laundry room and laundry room cabinets too. Here are just a few ideas to inspire you:

  • Contrast – If your washer and dryer are white, as many are, contrasting them with darker shades on the cabinets can be a great way to add some character to your laundry room.
  • Matching – On the other hand, matching the color of your laundry room storage cabinets and your appliances can also be a great way to go, allowing you to give the room a harmonious look.
  • Sleek – Opt for sleek cabinets without too much decoration or detail to create a laundry room with a very modern and elegant feel and aesthetic.
  • Traditional – You might also opt for a more traditional design with wooden cabinet doors that can work well in homes with rustic styles.
  • Light Tones – Opting for light and airy tones in your cabinets can help small spaces look larger, as well as helping dark or dimly-lit rooms feel brighter and more welcoming too.
  • Bright and Bold – If you love color and liveliness in your home, you might want to go a little wild in the laundry room with a totally original cabinet choice, adding splashes of bright and bold colors like reds, greens, or blues.
  • Above-Appliance Storage – It’s common to fit laundry room cabinets directly above the washer and dryer, and this can be really convenient for storing things like towels, hangers, and detergent. Make sure you choose cabinets that are the right size for the items you want to store in them.