Devonshire Woman

Most couples love the idea of bringing children into the world and starting a family. The only issue is that many people don’t realise just how much that move is going to affect their lives. That is especially the case when it comes to the tidiness of their homes. Like it or not, within a couple of months of having a baby, you’re going to discover that children make a LOT of mess. Worst of all, the problem will only get worse as they begin to grow. For that reason, all mothers need to consider some of the tips below if they don’t want to lose their minds.

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Buy furniture that contains hidden storage

The first and most straightforward step you can take related to all future furniture purchases. While there are lots of methods you could use to create extra storage in your living space, this is the most natural strategies to follow. There are lots of furniture specialists on the market who sell items that contain hidden storage space. If you get some of those products for your home, you will manage to hide a lot of the clutter away from view. In most instances, you’ll find the following items that contain storage:

• Beds
• Sofas
• Armchairs
• Coffee tables

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Create a playroom for the little ones

Some parents decide that enough is enough after cleaning up after their children in the lounge a few hundred times. That is when the adults realise it makes sense to attempt to contain the mess in a single room. Of course, you won’t want to force your child to stay in their bedroom all day long. So, you might have to lose that guest room or home office if you wish to use this suggestion. Just create a playroom where your loved one can make as much mess as they like without causing you any headaches. Decorate the room using stencils of their favourite Disney characters or something similar.

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Pay for a cleaning professional

If all else fails, nothing is stopping you from hiring some professional help. That is especially useful if both parents have to hold down full-time jobs. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to clean and tidy your house after arriving home and cooking food for the family. Thankfully, that service is not going to break the bank, and you can usually find cleaners for around £10 or $12 per hour. Just make sure you hire someone with an excellent track record who works for an established brand. That way, you shouldn’t have to worry about the potential for theft or damage.

After reading that information, all parents should feel like they can breathe a sigh of relief. When all’s said and done, keeping on top of things at home when you work and have small children is not unlike rocket science. It’s difficult, time-consuming, and you’d rather spend your time doing something else. That is why the last tip is probably the most valuable one on that page. Whatever you decide, just set the wheels in motion as soon as possible!

If you are one of the few lucky people fortunate enough to, either partly or fully, work from home then you may have noticed that it’s easy to get distracted when attempting to work. Your everyday surroundings carry a mental weight to them which you then associate with other activities which you suddenly find the need to do. These might be either productive activities like cleaning or sorting out your taxes but usually, it’s just making tea for the 6th time within the hour.

Without a proper change in your environment it’s often hard to get in a concentrated working mindset unless you are very strong-willed or have incredible self-control then chances are you’re going to need some sort of help in maintaining your work ethic.Setting up a home office or at least a proper workspace of sorts works wonders in this case. It helps mentally separate time for work and time for everyday activities.

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The Right Desk

Ideally, you would want your home office or workspace to be in a separate room altogether from your everyday living space, if that is out of the question then dedicating a chunk of a room will also do the trick. In order to properly plan out how space will be used it’s good to start with the right desk, considering the age we live in chances are it will most probably be a computer desk. If you are not familiar with computer desks then you may want to look at tips for choosing the right computer desk. Picking the right computer desk can be crucial for optimal working conditions as well as looking out for your health. The right desk height combined with the right chair is essential to maintaining the correct posture while sitting down in front of the computer for hours on end.

Prioritise the functionality of the desk rather than the aesthetic because in the end, you are trying to create a workspace rather than a showroom. Space for a keyboard can either be essential or near useless depending on if you’re planning on using a desktop PC or a laptop. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t completely rule out a keyboard tray even if you are going to be using a laptop as your primary PC. Many people use a wireless or USB keyboard with their laptop because of wanting to preserve the laptop keyboard for a long as possible or just due to preference for different key switches which are available on mechanical keyboards. The option of having a full keyboard rather than a laptop keyboard which usually has no numpad amongst other things is also quite appealing to someone who is used to a full-board setup for a keyboard.

The Right Chair

People have different ways of resting their arms or and hands while typing. From keeping your arms completely midair and typing from the air, to having their elbows resting on armrests and wrists planted and everything in between. When considering what kind of chair you want for your home office, you need to consider several factors which include whether it has wheels like a typical office/computer chair? Does it have armrests and if so if they are adjustable? While a lot of these factors are pure preference, some are objective positives, being able to tilt back your chair can prove to be very comfortable at times as well as beneficial for your back and having armrests which can be adjusted to your liking will be very much appreciated by your arms after a long time at the desk.

In the end, having some sort of preference initially will help you pick the perfect workspace for you, don’t be afraid of going and trying out existing setups in furniture shops because you’re going to be spending a considerable amount of time in front of your new workspace.

The kitchen can definitely feel like the hub of a home, wouldn’t you agree? It can often be the room that the whole family congregates in at certain points of the day. It maybe in the morning where you drink your morning coffee and the children eat their breakfast before heading out on the school run. It might be in the evening when everyone has gotten home, one person is preparing tea, maybe children are doing their homework, and everyone is generally discussing their days. So it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that when it comes to decorating your home, the kitchen can be very high on the priority list.

However, there is no shying away from the fact that also the kitchen can be one of the most expensive redecoration projects you take on in your home. Have you priced up a full kitchen recently? Which is why I thought I would share with you some of the inspiring ways you can add some flair and style to your kitchen, making it a project that can be done within a budget. Whatever you decide to set.

Change the doors not the kitchen

We all know that a fully fitted kitchen can be expensive to replace, even if you are quite handy and can fit it yourself. But, half the expense is the kitchen shell that is already fitted in place, and the worktops that have been added. However, if you like the positioning of the cupboards and the layout of your kitchen, and it is in good condition, then there really is no need to replace these parts. This is when you could revamp your kitchen simply by changing the cabinet doors. Maybe you like a more modern look or something more rustic. This change alone could even make your kitchen appear to have been replaced entirely.

Add some colour

Colour is one of those things that can add a huge change and atmosphere to a room for a very little price tag. A quick paint of the walls can make a kitchen feel different and completely changed. Colour doesn’t need to just stop at the walls though, you could maybe paint the original kitchen doors or upcycle some of the furniture you have in there to create a different look.

Treat yourself to some new kitchen gadgets

Sometimes a few small changes here and there is enough to keep our changing demons at bay. So you may want to consider replacing some of the smaller gadgets you have in your kitchen. Perhaps a new microwave or kettle and toaster set, for example. There are always beautiful collections available. You may even want to make your kitchen function better with some added gadgets and things like water softeners. This can help to reduce damage caused by hard water to things like your washing machine or dishwashers, for example. Websites like Best Spy can showcase some of the best ones to consider. Small changes like this can make a big difference to our kitchens, how they look and how they function.

Just make one significant change

If you do have some room in the budget for something a little more extravagant, then consider making one significant change. Something like the flooring, or adding or replacing tiles on the walls can have a huge impact on how your kitchen looks, without the need for replacing the whole thing in its entirety. Kitchens work well with many floor types including tiles or vinyl, so there is sure to be an option to suit all budgets.

Replace older appliances

Whether they are integrated or freestanding, when was the last time you bought your washing machine, your fridge/freezer or your dishwasher, if you have one? Many of us make these purchases and then forget how quickly time can go by. Often, older appliances aren’t as energy efficient, which can mean a saving can be made to your bills when replacing them.

Have a move around

Finally, moving things around can often be all it takes to make a kitchen feel like it has been changed in some way. Rearrange the way you have things on your surfaces and countertops. If you have a family area in your kitchen add a table or a sofa, or change the layout of it to suit your needs. While you at it, give the kitchen a good deep clean and declutter the cupboards. You may be surprised to find old tins of food and things you no longer want or need lurking at the back of them.

I hope this has inspired you to make some changes to your kitchen.