16 Before-and-After Room Makeovers - Part 6

Before

The playroom is ill equipped to stow toys, games, and crayons, which means most of it gets spread out over the floor—or stuck in makeshift containers, like the play kitchen. Artwork is statically and messily taped to the wall.

After

A 16-foot-long wall provides enough cubbies for each toy, marker, and paintbrush to have a home. A “hanging gallery” made from strung curtain wire encourages constant rotation of paintings and provides an inexpensive and sturdy way to showcase children’s masterpieces. Three different areas for creating are carved out: the art area, the worktable, and the reading nook—a cozy place with a bookcase stocked full of favorites, good lighting, and cuddle-worthy seating. Window shades are in a soothing robin’s-egg blue.

Before

Between the scattered stuffed animals, the prolific artwork with no home, the books in disarray, and the random pieces of dress-up clothing, the room constantly looks as though a major storm front roared through. 

After

An existing, matching shelving unit was cleared to house books and games neatly. Clothing is stored in the drawers, and out-of-season items go in bins on top.

 

Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding. 

PASTORAL PRINCESS ADORABLE RED AND PINK FLORAL COTTON GIRLS BEDDING COMFORTER SET

16 Before-and-After Room Makeovers - Part 5

Before

A double bed crammed into the corner, cordoning off half the room, makes the space feel claustrophobic. Ungainly dark carpet visually brings the walls in closer. Plus, the room needs an overhaul on its dual functionality, from a guest room/home office to a nursery/home office.

After

An energetic yet soothing color enlivens and enlarges the room, creating a calm, airy space for both doing business and bringing up baby. With less clutter, each side has room to spread out a little. The double-purpose room is integrated by keeping to a consistent color scheme that’s pulled together by a bold patterned piece. Leaving most of the floor bare reduces allergens and increases the feeling of spaciousness, and a roller shade can let in daylight or block it out during nap time.

Before
With no room to spread out in the small office, the desk is overloaded with school reports, unpaid bills, and children’s artwork piled in haphazard layers. And the office has become a dumping ground for everything from junk mail to homework.

After

The addition of five adjustable shelves makes smart use of vertical wall space and high ceilings. With papers now neatly stowed in boxes, bins, and cabinets, the desk is freed up for its intended purpose: reading and writing. A wire-mesh file mounted on the wall to the left of the desk creates an “in and out” system for mail, and a yellow desk stool adds a pop of color.

Advertisements: If you are interested in Blankets UK and want to decorate your bedroom, comforter covers Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our pillow cases. 

PASTORAL PRINCESS ADORABLE WHITE AND PINK FLORAL COTTON BEDDING COMFORTER SET FOR GIRLS

16 Before-and-After Room Makeovers - Part 4

Before

A lonely console table near the front door serves mostly as a temporary resting place for things waiting to be put away—though not even the mail, which the owners tend to spread throughout the house. Dark blue on the walls makes them heavy, so the room feels close.

After

A new desk takes advantage of unused wall space, adding shelf and drawer storage and a place to sort and file mail and other papers. Household records are kept within easy reach in magazine file boxes. A coat of yellow paint provides instant lift and a sunny look.

Before

Papers, books, and accessories run rampant over a desktop, leaving little room to actually work. A cumbersome desk chair and wastepaper basket are nothing but clunky, and despite the overflowing workspace, the walls remain bare.

After

By installing 20 twelve-inch-round magnetic boards over the desk—claiming the wall’s valuable unutilized space—the room gains a graphic backdrop for hanging notes and magnet-backed mesh baskets. Hanging shelves provide a haven for books and magazines; cord bundlers and clips corral unruly electronics cords. The desk chair and wastepaper basket are upgraded to sleeker models.

Advertisements: If you are interested in bed sheets and want to decorate your bedroom, bedding comforters Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our sleeping pillows. 

PASTORAL PRINCESS ADORABLE PINK AND BLACK PURE COTTON BEDDING COMFORTER SET FOR GIRLS

16 Before-and-After Room Makeovers - Part 3

Before

The kitchen is treated as a showcase for pottery and plants instead of a practical work area. The counter space is sparse and a never-used table takes up valuable turf.

After

The table is removed and replaced by a base cabinet with drawers and a countertop that is 10 inches deeper than average—creating some much-needed surface area. The excessive decorative pieces make way for more useful items, like a wine rack for bottles that had been strewn about the floor. With the clutter cleared, there’s an easy flow between the three key work areas: sink, stove, and refrigerator.

Before

A hodgepodge of photos, crafts projects, books, and mailings doesn’t leave an inch of space to work in this home office. The bright fuchsia rug clashes with the yellow walls.

After

The clunky desk is replaced with space-saving sturdy shelves to house the computer and keyboard—long enough for two people to work at. The mountain of papers, whittled down, is sorted and stored away in a file cabinet; photos go into tin boxes, and magazines are kept in bulk bins. A coordinating rug and office chair balance out the color scheme.

Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding. 

YELLOW CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

16 Before-and-After Room Makeovers - Part 2

Before

With papers piled up across the countertops, it’s hard to find a cleared spot for food preparation.

After

Kitchen counters are freed up by mounting basics—calendar, phone, to-do lists—on the wall. A rolling file cabinet (which slides into the adjacent pantry when not in use) keeps paperwork in order, while a mounted hideaway cutting board and retractable bookstand save valuable counter space.

Before

Small, dark, and cluttered, this kitchen isn’t exactly an inspiring place to start the day. The worn solid-oak cabinets make the kitchen feel even smaller than it is. And though the counters are crowded, the walls are going unused.

After

To lighten the room, cabinets are painted white, a matching front is ordered from the manufacturer and attached to the dishwasher (takes only minutes to install), and the fussy valance is removed from the windows to let in more natural light, making the kitchen appear larger without comprising privacy. Walls are made useful with a mounted microwave and a hook rack beside the stove that makes it easy to grab frequently used pans, utensils, and potholders.

Advertisements: If you are interested in Blankets UK and want to decorate your bedroom, comforter covers Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our pillow cases. 

BLACK AND WHITE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

16 Before-and-After Room Makeovers

Room Reboots

From one end of the house (the entryway) to the other (the mudroom), it seems, readers’ rooms could use a little zhooshing up. But whether the problem is a lack of organization or a dearth of pizzazz, Real Simple has the solution. Find smart tips—and inspiration—in this gallery of before-and-after shots, and apply them to a room of your own.

Before

Every entryway has the challenge of setting the tone for the rest of a home, and this bare front hall wasn’t particularly inviting. The homeowner wanted it to be more welcoming—and to function like a mudroom without looking like one.

After
With the walls painted deep red, the foyer now greets guests warmly. A (dirt-catching) striped woven cotton rug draws visitors into the house. A narrow farmhouse-style bench encourages kids to sit down and take off their shoes. Footwear and backpacks can be stashed in four wicker baskets in the new console. The new, larger mirror reflects the sunlight that pours in through the now-curtainless window and makes the room seem larger.

Before

A jumble of flea market finds clutters the entryway, while its color scheme lacks presence.

After

Darkening the foyer gives it drama and accentuates the brightness of the repainted living room walls. Grouping found art gives the collection cohesiveness.

Advertisements: If you are interested in bed sheets and want to decorate your bedroom, bedding comforters Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our sleeping pillows.

BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Readers’ Best Cleaning Tips and Tricks - Part 6

Washing China

"I make a paste of baking soda and water to clean discolored teacups and teapots. It's gentle enough for most fine china, and it's easy on the hands and the wallet."

Cleaning Glassware

"When you're washing narrow-necked glass vases and decanters, add a little uncooked rice to the water. Your glassware will sparkle."

Getting Motivated to Clean

"My husband and I motivate ourselves to clean by inviting people over. Having a deadline makes us work faster and more efficiently. When our guests arrive, we can relax in our freshly cleaned house."

Advertisements: If you are interested in bed sheets and want to decorate your bedroom, bedding comforters Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our sleeping pillows. 

4Pcs WHITE AND BLUE FLORAL COTTON CHEAP DESIGNER BEDDING COMFORTER SET

Readers’ Best Cleaning Tips and Tricks - Part 5

Using One Tool for Many Tasks

"I use a cordless, bagless, handheld vacuum cleaner for everything from kitchen crumbs to dust bunnies. Then I just empty the canister into the trash."

Asking for Help

"The best household cleaning tip I can give is find someone else to do it."

Eliminating Wax Spills

"To remove hardened wax from fabric, place a paper towel or a brown paper bag on top of the wax and press with an iron on low heat. The paper absorbs the wax, and your iron stays clean."

Cleaning Glass

"Use old newspapers instead of paper towels to clean mirrors and windows. They work great, and you're recycling."

Maintaining Tidy Rooms

"During the week, the rooms that matter most to you are the ones to keep neat. If you worry about all the rooms all the time, you'll spread yourself thin."

Advertisements: If you are interested in luxury bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, luxury comforter sets Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our cheap bedding sets. 

4Pcs BLUE AND RED FLORAL COTTON CHEAP DESIGNER BEDDING COMFORTER SET

Readers’ Best Cleaning Tips and Tricks - Part 4

Wiping Up

"Baby wipes are useful for quick surface cleanups in kitchens and bathrooms. They also are great for cleaning up after craft projects."

Prioritizing

"My priority is to be a good mom, not to have the perfect house. I picked up a friend's motto: 'If you want to see me, come on over. If you want to see my house, call ahead.'"

Removing Stickers

"To remove stubborn price tags from items like dishes and glassware, I use a cotton pad or Q-tip soaked with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol dissolves the sticky glue and doesn't mess up my manicure."

Keeping the House Clutter-Free

"When in doubt, dump it. You'll revel in your decluttered existence and have fewer items to dust."

Advertisements: If you are interested in Blankets UK and want to decorate your bedroom, comforter covers Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our pillow cases. 

4Pcs BLUE FLORAL COTTON CHEAP DESIGNER BEDDING COMFORTER SET

Readers’ Best Cleaning Tips and Tricks - Part 3

Cleaning for Guests

"If you can clean only one room before company arrives, tackle the bathroom. This is the only room where people spend time solo and may have the time and tendency to notice a mess."

Removing Food Odors

"When my plastic storage containers start to smell like the food that was in them, I wash them with hot water and two tablespoons of baking soda."

Speeding Through Chores

"I follow two good tips: Time will fly if you listen to great music, and enlist your family's help."

Dusting Lamp Shades

"My vacuum attachment doesn't work on cloth lamp shades, so I dust the shades with a lint roller."

Repurposing Old Clothes

"I wear an old, unmatched sock on my hand when I have to dust the house. I run my hand along chair rails, crown moldings, and doors until the sock is dusty enough to discard or wash and reuse."

Advertisements: If you are interested in bed sheets and want to decorate your bedroom, bedding comforters Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our sleeping pillows.

4Pcs WHITE AND BLUE FLORAL COTTON CHEAP DESIGNER BEDDING COMFORTER SET