Achieve Both Style & Functionality

What do you want from a kitchen? To cook and eat in peace and serenity, making both practicality and appearances a priority. Throughout the pandemic, hygiene has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds and will become a priority for people when designing their homes. On the other hand, we don’t want to replace the warmth of a home-cooked meal with sterility.

This will bring many interesting changes inside our homes, including a move towards germ-resistant materials, smart technology and easy-to-clean hard surfaces. Whether it’s making big changes, like using materials that have antibacterial properties or surfaces which are easy to clean, or small ones, like incorporating more stylish bins and luxurious hand sanitiser containers, the point is to feel safe but not too clinical or out of place.

Speaking of hygiene, don’t forget you need flooring for kitchen remodelling and you need to consider what kind of kitchen floor is easiest to clean. Whether you opt for a tile kitchen floor or vinyl flooring for the kitchen, it needs to be set earlier on in the process, preferably after painting your kitchen walls.

Vinyl flooring has been on the rise in recent years because of the modern upgrades it’s received. Now available in tiles and planks that mimic the look of hardwood and stone, it’s completely waterproof, has an almost springy feel underfoot, and is incredibly easy to clean. Thus, vinyl flooring is the best kitchen flooring option if you’re a DIY type of person.

Another way to achieve supreme functionality is to use interior fittings and drawers to maximize your storage. Replace your old cabinets with ones that reach the ceiling and maximize your vertical space. Use smaller appliances if possible and try to squeeze in a pantry, even if it is just a small pull-out one. Don’t forget the space above your fridge as it can be used as storage too.

Hooks can help you hang kitchenware and cups while a magnetic knife bar can keep your chopping skills sharp. The inside of your cabinet doors is a neat and tidy way to hide away unnecessary clutter.

You Deserve Premium Dining

With everything that’s been going on or should we say hasn’t, home entertainment has become a really important factor for us. Those with gardens have intended to create the ultimate outdoor entertaining spaces. Fear not, as there are ways how to create a fine dining experience at home even if you just have a kitchen island.

As you can’t go outside, a trending alternative is to bring the outside in. The mix between the freedom of the outdoors and the comfort and safety of indoors will enable you to have the ultimate relaxing dinner, whether it’s just you or your family is joining you. The advancements of modern kitchen appliances allow you to host a successful restaurant experience without leaving the house. It’s time for that old electric stove to go and replace it with a gas stove. If you’re not 100% confident in your own abilities, have something delivered, bring out the fine China or crystal and make sure everything is spotlessly served.

Having your neighbours over? You’ve all been down and simple waving down the hall just won’t cut it anymore. Think of the meal you’d like to prepare and pick a theme to match. Maybe you want to create a Parisian café vibe or fulfil your yearning for the tropics while you’re eating Vietnamese?

Investing a bit in flowers can help you paint your ambience in soothing green tones and take you in any direction of the world you please. Candles can illuminate any room and mood but when it comes to having a dinner date with your partner, they are the ultimate igniters of romance. The right décor can transform any space into your fantasy dinner, it just depends on how many extra miles you’re willing to take. Luckily, going over the top is not necessary to set the scene and the simplest tricks are still, by far the best. A thoughtful selection of music to compliment your theme will immerse your guest in your restaurant vision.

Achieve a Sense of Control

Personal control, socially supportive relationships and restoration from stress and fatigue are all affected by properties of the built environment. The physical environment may influence mental health which is why decorating your home is good for your mental health.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6 people suffer from mental health issues like anxiety and depression weekly. Furthermore, 1 in 5 Australians is reporting high or very high levels of psychological distress linked to the Covid 19 pandemic, with young people, women and those living with a disability being most affected.

Characteristics and qualities that distinguish a “home” from a mere “place of residence” are light, texture and pattern. Not only are they channels through which we can capture a healthy and mindful ambience but also reduce anxiety and depression.

Natural light is a proven mood improver that increases energy and morale. On the contrary, artificial lighting, including white fluorescent and incandescent deplete physical and emotional energy. Although there’s nothing better than a sun-drenched kitchen in the morning, we don’t all have that luxury hence we have to turn to artificial sources.

Textures, as an integral part of our everyday sensory experiences, can create lasting aesthetic experiences. These imprint on the brain, associating them with the positive emotions elicited in all similar textural and patterned interactions in the future. Specifically, dynamic textures are spatially repetitive, time-varying visual patterns that tend to repeat.

Dynamic textures are spatially repetitive and stimulate visual imagery which induces soothing emotion in the brain. Try a kitchen wallpaper that mimics water movement or natural plant patterns as they’re correlated to calm, content, and positive emotional states. Some of these repetitive and wave-like patterns can also be captured by using natural hard surfaces for tables and countertops like wood and granite. One more reason to replace those old kitchen cabinets.

A space can have a positive effect on mood when it’s arranged in such a way that fosters social interaction and is open and easy to maneuver through. Also, the presence of overall organization and tidiness is crucial. You can’t expect to have a peaceful meal and a clutter-free mind if your kitchen is all clutter.

When we seek retreat in our homes from the daily chaos of work and life, our minds and bodies yearn for a soothing and harmonious environment. Environments that have the aforementioned elements lower stress hormone levels, lower blood pressure, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve overall mood.

Boost Creativity & Productivity

We’ve been under lockdown for so long that you managed to go through both the binge-watching TV series phase and the exercise phase. Probably even loved it at first because you got a chance to read all those books that kept on piling up. But what about self-expression? Some may have a gift for painting, others learned crocheting during the pandemic. If that’s not your thing and you’re a bit more pragmatic by nature, why not start a project that’s both smart and creative?

Using your free time to develop your own project that will result in a practical product will give you an immense sense of satisfaction. Moreover, you’d be cooperating with a contractor, architect and/or interior designer will be rewarding and inspiring as you’ll get a chance to learn a lot about kitchen and home improvements if that’s what floats your boat.

The Right Floor for Your Living Room

The living room is the place where you spend a great part of your day and where you entertain people. For that reason, you need to make sure it looks warm and homey, starting from the floors you choose. When in doubt about what home flooring solutions are best for the living room, remember one thing – the floor needs to be a combination of functionality and style.

If you’re looking for something beyond regular wooden and marble, try luxury vinyl tiles. Vinyl tiles are made from several layers of PVC plastic glued together and have a polyurethane (PUR) surface that contributes to easy maintenance. Plus, high-quality vinyl tiles are very easy to clean and maintain. 

Vinyl tiles mimic the appearance of regular wooden and tile residential flooring. In fact, the technology used for the creation of vinyl tiles is so advanced that you can hardly tell the difference between the real thing and vinyl.

Many people who are remodeling their homes opt for vinyl tile flooring instead of the usual wooden planks and tiles. Why? Well, vinyl floors are a cheaper version, are very easy to install and look and feel exactly the same as the product that’s being imitated. Depending on your preference, you can pick flexible or rigid vinyl tiles. So why go through all the trouble of removing everything from the room and spending days on flooring installation when you can quickly install vinyl tiles without creating a huge mess?   

With the help of vinyl tiles you can easily get the look and beauty of wood and realistic reproductions of stone and metal. On the plus side, vinyl tiles are durable, can withstand high traffic and don’t require any special maintenance. Vinyl tiles are excellent home flooring solutions for homes as they have great isolation properties, don’t produce sounds and are impact resistant.

 Kitchen and Dining Room Flooring

The kitchen is the place where the magic happens but also the place where many “accidents” happen. You will agree that cleaning a tomato sauce from a white carpet is not the ideal scenario. It’s more of a true nightmare. You can avoid all that if you’re smart about picking your kitchen flooring. You should look for something durable, easy to clean but also stylish.

The most common choice for kitchen and dining room floors are porcelain tiles. They are the best and most durable option compared to vinyl and laminate or wood. You can find all sorts of textures, designs and colours of ceramic tiles so you shouldn’t worry about whether the tiles will fit with the rest of the décor or not – because you can certainly find a model that will. 

Porcelain tiles are water and stain-resistant, which means you won’t have to stress that much if you accidentally spilled something. A small amount of detergent, water and a soft cloth will easily solve the problem. 

Flooring for the Bedrooms

When it comes to the bedroom you’re more at liberty to pick whatever you find suitable. In this room, you can even go with carpets. I am sure that the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about your bedroom is comfort and relaxation. So, its design might as well match that.  

A great combo for the bedroom is the one of hardwood flooring and super-soft carpet for decoration. Interior designers will agree that high-quality hardwood flooring is the ideal option for the bedroom. Wood flooring is warm, welcoming, beautiful and quite durable. It looks attractive, increases the value of the house, it’s recyclable, eco-friendly and non-allergenic. Although the wooden floor is more prone to suffering damage that can’t be repaired, with proper care you can enjoy its beauty for years to come.

As for the carpet, besides choosing one that’s comfortable, pay attention to the materials and fibre used in production and how much maintenance it’ll require. Some carpets are even machine-washable, so maybe that’ll be the best option for you if you want something convenient. Depending on what your end goal is, you can pick a carpet in a bold or neutral colour, printed or monochrome. Either way, a carpet in the bedroom is always a good idea.

Bathroom Flooring Options

Among other things, the bathroom floor needs to be water-resistant. This is actually the most important feature. If you pick a floor that can’t withstand moisture, you’ll face a functionality problem and you’ll soon have to replace the existing floor.  

Ideally, you’ll want ceramic tiles, waterproof vinyl or waterproof laminate. The fact that bathroom floors are waterproof means that it’ll be easy for you to clean and maintain them. And to make sure that the flooring will last for quite some time, pay good attention to the thickness. Thicker flooring lasts longer and is less likely to get damaged over time. On the other hand, vinyl and ceramic tiles are resistant to moisture and water damage, scratching, staining, impact and traffic.

Design-wise, you have so many good options that I’m sure you’ll find it hard to pick only one. Ceramic and vinyl tiles can be found in a wide range of colours and textures that contribute to making your bathroom have an aesthetic appeal and making it look more spacious and open. Ceramic and vinyl tiles don’t cost as much as marble does for instance, but can make your bathroom look high-end and contemporary.