Before you get started, go through your cabinets and cupboards and clear out anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. No, this doesn’t really have anything to do with making your kitchen appear larger, but it will make you feel better when you open up your cupboards to organization and room instead of clutter.

First of All, Organize

A cluttered, junked-up counter top really decreases the space in a kitchen. While small appliances, plants, canisters and other knick-knacks don’t use floor space, they do make the room look unorganized and smaller. With your counter tops opened up and free of clutter, you will be on your way to creating an airy, spacious look.

Walls and Floors

You probably already know this, but light colors really expand a room. If your walls are dark or covered with wallpaper, it’s time to make a change. Strip wallpaper; small prints, flowers and any intricate designs make the room look smaller. A fresh coat of butter yellow paint or any other very light color will look appealing and visually open the room.

Floors should be kept light as well. If you have wood floors, natural wood or pine stained in a very light shade looks clean. Linoleum or ceramic tile should be light colored as well, perhaps in cream or sand shades.

Cabinets

Most people cannot afford new cabinets, as they are very expensive. As with your walls and floors, cabinets need to be of a light shade. If you have dark cabinets, you can give them a face lift yourself to save money. Updating your cabinets will transform the look and feel of your kitchen more than you can imagine. Sand the finish, apply a couple of coats of light colored paint, and add some decorative hardware. You may want to apply a coat of glossy polyurethane to protect the paint and give it sheen.

Opening up your windows allows light to come in and works great for making the room look more spacious. If you can, leave the window over your sink completely open with no curtains or other window treatments. If you must use something, keep it sheer and light colored to continue with the airy appeal.

Keep the floors clear of furniture and other accessories that are not needed. If you have lots of plants, baskets or other things taking up floor space, move them out. The cleaner you keep the floors, counter tops and kitchen table, the more spacious your kitchen will appear. Put a few of these tips to work for you, and soon you will have a kitchen that looks as though it has doubled in size!

Leon Tuberman has been part of the home furnishings and interior design business for 40 years. He is the owner and operator of popular furniture store in California. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for a oak dresser for your guest bedroom or a dining table for your formal dining room then they have everything you need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leon_Tuberman

Granite
Granite features high density and hardness, wear-resistant and acid/alkali resistant, so it is an ideal material for kitchen counter tops or work tops. Dirt or chemicals are difficult to penetrate granite due to its high density and wear-resistant property. But the granite has length limit in fabrication, so it is not possible to make a kitchen countertop in one piece, which means it has seams. If the seams are not handled properly, the dirt or chemical can penetrate the seams where bacteria may produce. So we suggest to hire qualified workers to install the countertop or work top.

Stainless steel
Stainless steel kitchen countertops has a modern and fashionable look. The surface is very bright and clean-looking. There is no place on a countertop to hide bacteria, so it is the best anti-bacteria material among the six countertop material we introduce in this article. The disadvantage is that the surface of the stainless steel is easy to scratch and the scratch can not be restored. So we need to pay attention when cleaning a stainless steel countertop.

Wood
Some people like wood countertops because they are natural and have unique texture. Wood countertops are light weight and DIY friendly, so people like to do it themselves. But the wood surface is not wear-resistant and not acid/alkali resistant. The seams between each piece is difficult to control and when water get inside the wood, it will get mold and be degraded. So it is not as durable in use as other material.

Ceramic tile
Ceramic tile is a kind of man-made material, so the color, veins and patterns can be made identical. The ceramic tile is very thin and light weight comparing to natural stone tile, so we do not need to reinforce the base. The ceramic tile is durable in use and also fairly economic. But it is easy to broken when hit or putting hot or cold stuff on it. And also the seams between each tile are hard to clean.

Artificial stone
Artificial stone is made according to the property of natural stone and has become a replacement for natural stone in recent years. It has the physical property of natural stone. The veins and color of artificial stone are even more plentiful than natural stone. The artificial stone countertops can be made seamless, so it is easy to clean. The disadvantage is that it is man-made. Some people do not like man-made products, they just like something natural. If you do not care about it is natural or not, it is an ideal material for kitchen countertops.

If you need more tips or other info, please visit our website at http://www.pengstone.com.

Pengs Stone Products offers high quality natural stone countertops and artificial countertops. We are a China-base stone product supplier, we export our products to worldwide. You can buy nearly any stone products for home décor from us. We do wholesale and also we accept small orders. If you have home décor or home remodelling project, just buy from us and you can save a lot of money. You may concern about the international shipping cost would be high. Actually, the shipping cost is not as high as you think of and the overall cost will still be much lower than purchasing from your local suppliers. You don’t believe that? Just send your inquiry to us.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peng_Kevin

The kitchen is the most utilized and meaningful room in a household. It is the hub for family tasks and used for food preparation, household management, and of course entertaining. It is indeed the heart of any home. No matter how many rooms you have dedicated for entertainment, everyone always ends up in the kitchen! With the kids back in school, a cool nip in the air, fall kicks off our major holiday season – in fact, we can celebrate right through the New Year. Now is a great time to get your kitchen “party readied,” and organized for easy maneuvering during the holiday rush, and of course-seasonally updated.

• Need a Color Lift? – Pick a wall if daring – pick them all. Paint it a seasonal color – Ben Moore’s Toasted Pecan #1209, Burnt Sienna #1196, or Sherwin William’s Library Pewter SW0038, or Studio Blue-Green SW0047. It’s just paint, and is the easiest and cheapest change you can make.

• Counter Tops – Swap out a tired canister set with a new revision; there are loads to choose from (If you’re not a gourmet cook, store pens, notepads, and takeout menus inside.) They add needed color and design. Large platters on plate stands are good-looking in unused dark corners or grouped on walls. Extra-large clear glass canisters are conversation makers when layered with dried beans, nuts or black, yellow and white dried popcorn. A kitchen must is a sassy new set of dish towels, seasonal kitchen candles, and a hand soap/lotion set in scents of spiced apple, pumpkin or caramel.

• Tell a Story with your Floral – A whimsical floral whether store or home made adds a bit of seasonal flair to any table. Create a mini-container garden by abundantly grouping those adorable “mini” annuals and petite ivy. or a bountiful arrangement with faux fall veggies, dried pods, leaves and vines.

• Looking Up – Upper cabinet tops or upper shelves seem always to pose a decorating challenge. For a quick and easy change, large seasonally inspired platters, framed art, and garden items such as gazing spheres, or obelisks fill spots fill tired spots.

• Smart Cook Organization – An easy way to organize, is to create stations within your kitchen. Love to bake? Set aside two cabinets and counter space solely used for baking (near the oven of course,) fill with baking essentials such as pans, small appliances, spices and other baking staples. Task clustering such as this will help you to stay on task during the busy holiday rush.

• Get your Party Started – Love to entertain, but don’t have a Butler’s Pantry? Convert your little used desk area into an entertainment station.

- Replace wood panels of upper cabinet with glass, adding lighting, and glass shelves
- Store glasses and decorative bottles.
- Line desk drawer with felt, and hold bar essentials and serving pieces.
- Add a tension rod with shirred fabric for extra storage to the knee hole space, or find the perfectly sized rolling cart.

Space Game – Use a Lazy Susan cabinet for a “Party Pantry.” Store food products, Beverages, paper goods. and china that can be used to throw a soiree at moment’s notice. If you’re even luckier to have an unused closet. super size it and linens, vases, and decor all in one neat place.

No matter how large or small your kitchen, whether you’re a gourmet cook or take-out type, every kitchen needs a seasonal boost and should be readied for family, friends and favorite holiday celebrates in style.

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