How To Keep Your Kitchen Smelling Fresh

Kitchens can get very dirty, which leads to a buildup of nasty and funky smells. These smells get even worse if left unaddressed. You may avoid the kitchen to get away from the odor, and when you cook, the smells may even affect the food. Get rid of these odors to make the most of your space. Read ahead to learn how to keep your kitchen smelling fresh.

Fridge Cleaning

Fridges collect many of the bad smells in the kitchen. Make sure you clean all parts of your fridge to prevent these smells from building up. Discard any questionable food and wipe down the inside and outside of the fridge. Adding an open bowl of baking soda to the fridge will absorb any bad stench. You should also clean under the fridge to make sure nothing is leaking or causing an external issue.

During Cooking

When it comes to cooking, you can take a few steps to prevent odors before they happen. First, make sure to get a good airflow through the room. This can include opening a window to let in fresh air. Fans can also increase airflow to remove smells. Specifically designed wall mounted range fans are very good at removing and preventing the buildup of smells during cooking, even if you do not have a window in your kitchen. Another open bowl of baking soda in the room while you cook can help with smells.

You should also ensure you clean your towels and trash bin to avoid dealing with anything nasty. A garbage disposal can also start to smell; shredding a lemon can help. If you want to maintain a neat kitchen, you need to stay on top of cleaning. It’s the best way to keep your kitchen smelling fresh for both you and any house guests.

How To Give Your Home More Personality

Interior decorators are amazing at what they do, but they can’t give a room what it most needs: your personal touch. Even the most gorgeous décor falls flat if it’s not unmistakably yours. Think about how to give your home more personality so that it will be more enjoyable for you and more welcoming for your guests.

Embrace Color

Color trends come and go, so it can be intimidating to paint a room something other than white or move beyond neutrals. But you shouldn’t miss out on creating an atmosphere that can help you thrive. Even walls with a subtle color can set an inviting tone. Yellow can make a room feel sunny and optimistic, while green can make you joyful and energized. For what it’s worth, muted blues are in style right now, and can have a calming effect on a room. If you’re not ready to commit to paint, though, you can always have fun with vibrant throw pillows or even stick-on wallpaper.

Mix It Up

You may or may not be confident in your style—and that’s okay either way. You can consult the experts when decorating, but don’t take their advice too seriously. This is your home, not a series of showrooms. You should want to spend time in a room without worrying about mussing it up. Not everything has to match, and often it’s an out-of-left-field object that can bring the elements together. Include items that make you smile or make the room more interesting.

Showcase Art

There’s no law that says you have to fill up your walls with mainstream prints that fit your color scheme. Take your time finding the right artwork, or switch out generic décor when you can. This is your chance to curate your own personal museum, and you can achieve this with a painting from a local artist, a map of your favorite place, a textile, an architectural element—anything. The trend to frame your kids’ artwork can be a bit much, but then again, some kindergarten efforts could pass for abstract expressionist masterpieces.

Look To the Past

You’ve come a long way to get where you are, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to stick to the trendiest options. There’s no better way to give your home more personality than by giving it a sense of history and stability. If you have some hand-me-down furniture from your family, use it judiciously or upcycle it until it qualifies as an heirloom. Add souvenirs from travels or meaningful events in your life. Even if your connection with something is indirect, you may fall in love with a vintage piece or flea market find. And if you want to celebrate your accomplishments, go ahead and show off your grade school “Most Improved Player” trophy on a bookshelf.

Guest Post - Top 12 Kitchen Design Trends for 2021

Every year brings us new trends to follow. Hopefully, 2021 will bring us a healthier and happier year. So, in that name, we should reorganize and redesign the place where the health and happiness come from- the kitchen! 

Kitchen is one of the most visited spaces in each house. It is used for hanging out, preparing meals and sometimes for dining. Therefore, you need to prepare your kitchen to be according to the latest trends. What can you do?

Instead of blindly guessing this year’s trends, check out these 12 kitchen designs that will make your entire year better. Try some of these top 2021 kitchen trends. 

1. Colorful kitchen islands

Believe it or not, kitchen islands will continue to dominate the kitchen trend scene in 2021. Large kitchens that will have enough space to implement a kitchen island will be extremely popular. So, if you have a chance to install the kitchen island, do it, but don’t make it ordinary!

New 2021 is all about originality and novelty. Out with the old, in with the new! Instead of aiming for the classic kitchen island, add some personality to it. Choose a color that will match your kitchen and paint your kitchen island. Deep blue, green or wine red will be a big hit this year. So, hop on the bandwagon and be one of the first people to try out this new trend. 

2. Warm colors

Even though white kitchens will never go out of style, you won’t make a mistake if you enrich your kitchen with some warmer colors. Warm tones will be one of the biggest trends in 2021, and that doesn’t only include the appliances. 

If you want to follow this trend, consider repainting your cabinets and walls. Even something simple such as a creamy colored wall can contribute to the warm atmosphere in your kitchen. Just like comfort foods, comfort colors are the best way to highlight the homey feeling in your house. That’s why you should strive for warmer colors such as beige, aqua and orange. 

3. Different texture

Not keen on colorful kitchens? You have nothing to worry about as this year trends will also go beyond colors. It’s time to mix and match the different textures in your cooking area and enjoy the originality of your kitchen. 

Be daring and consider white bricks on the wall completed with the black marble countertops. This will perfectly match the natural wooden floor and brass latches and hinges on the cabinets. Experiment with some black finishing touches and your new, unique kitchen is ready to be used.

4. Specialty ovens

As we’re spending more time in our homes, cooking has become a daily activity for many families. Restaurant trips and take-outs have been replaced by the home-made cooked meals. Therefore, we can notice the growing trend of purchasing specialty ovens for your kitchen.

Specialty ovens can be practical. They can combine a traditional oven and a microwave into a single product and save you space and money. Most of them use steam to cook your food which also has a positive influence on your health. Due to the increasing lifestyle changes that started in 2020 and continue to 2021, these specialty ovens will be a healthier alternative to microwaves.

5. Touchless tech

No matter how hard we try to minimize the effects of the global pandemic, it still influences our daily life and habits. We wash our hands and things around the house more frequently to prevent the virus from spreading. However, we sometimes forget that we have to use our dirty and clean hands to open and close the faucet. That’s why touchless technology will be one of the biggest hits in 2021.

Besides motion sensor faucets in your sink that will make washing the dishes and fruits and veggies easier and more convenient, touchless tech has countless benefits. It will save water and money on utility bills; it will minimize the contamination and virus spreading and many more. So, no matter what type of kitchen you have, adding touchless technology can make your life easier and better.

6. Hidden appliances

Not everyone is a fan of stainless steel and industrial-looking kitchens. That style has bees extremely popular last year, so it's time to take it a step further and introduce a neat style that is based on hidden appliances. Who'd want to look at their refrigerator or dishwasher all day long?

But how can you create hidden appliances? One of the best things you can do is add fronts that will mimic your cabinets. That’s how you won’t be able to tell your cabinetry and fridge apart. This will create a nice and tidy blended look in your kitchen.

7. Open shelves

Do you have kitchenware you're particularly proud of? Why don’t you display it in your kitchen like a small exhibit? You're probably thinking that it will create an additional mess and make your kitchen look untidy. However, if you implement open shelves and plate holders in your kitchen, you'll have an ideal place to show off your cute cups, lovely plates and other cutlery.

Besides looking magnificent, open shelves are practical. As everything you use daily is displayed, you won’t have troubles finding the stuff you need. However, you shouldn’t forget cleaning your plated, glasses and cups before you use them as the dust from the kitchen may have gotten to them. 

8. Increased storage

You’ve probably been in the situation to buy food in bulks due to the quarantine and lockdowns. You’ve also probably noticed how much space does the food take. That’s why in 2021, you’ll need to implement a larger storage space in your kitchen.

One of the main upgrades should be focused on food preservation. Even though you have a freezer in your home, to preserve larger quantities of food for a longer period, you'll need an upgrade. That's why getting a larger freezer is a must-have in 2021. Besides that, consider the storage place for small kitchen appliances, such as waffle makers, toasters and mixers. Keep them safely stored away from the children. 

9. Marble countertops

Are you keen on expensive looks and posh styles? If so, marble countertops are the ideal choice for you. Even though marble has been popular before, this year it will get a special spotlight in your fancy kitchen.

One of the best things about marble is no matter how and where you use it, it will look delightful. Paired with colorful fruit baskets and kitchen countertop plants, marble is the perfect option for those who aim for an expensive kitchen look. Besides looking marvellous, marble is easy to clean and maintain in the style kitchen. 

10. Eco-friendly kitchen

Taking care of the environment and the planet is extremely popular now. To live an eco-friendly life, you don’t only need to change your lifestyle and habits, but also your home. What can you do to create a greener kitchen and sustainable space?

One of the easiest things you can do is recycle. Create separate bins for plastic, organic waste, glass and paper, and stick to it. There are many benefits of sustainable kitchens, one of the main being saving money. If you implement LED light bulbs and smart thermostats, you’ll be able to save energy and money in your kitchen. Add some plants to freshen up your space and make it seem greener. 

11. Terra Cotta style

What is your first thought when you hear the words terra cotta? Most people instantly think about Italian styles, warm earthy colors and potted plants. And they are right! Who said that traditional can't be beautiful? If you're a fan of unique, yet traditional kitchen styles, you're on the right track.

Pair warm terra cotta tiles with sophisticated countertops to create an atmosphere that is ideal for cooking. You’ll never want to get out of your kitchen! Don’t forget to include the durable kitchen floor mats in your cooking area to relieve the stress from your feet after cooking for the entire day. Besides that, floor mats can provide additional safety and style in your kitchen. They can be matched with unique brass and colorful tiles, which creates warm and cozy vibes you crave.

12. Bring back the rustic

Even though the rustic style has made its way back some time ago, new rustic is modern now. For this trend, you don't have to invest large sums of money. All you can do is keep the old furniture and create a rustic atmosphere in your home.

If you’re renovating your kitchen, make sure to avoid common mistakes for kitchen renovation. For new rustic style, you just need some paint to renew the cabinets and furniture. On top of that, stick to wooden ornaments and details to recreate the old kitchens our grandmas used to have.

Conclusion

Designs and trends change from time to time. New 2021 brings us a little bit of everything for everyone. You can surely find a style that suits your needs and likings. So, be amongst the first ones to implement these trends in your kitchen.  

Author Bio

Jasmine Anderson is a Sydney based lifestyle blogger and a toddler mom. She loves to spend quality time with her family, go thrifting, and spend just a little bit too much time on the internet.  twitter: https://twitter.com/AndersonJess_AJ

4 Potential Causes Of Mold On Your Ceilings

While you may not spend much time looking up at your ceiling, when you do the last thing you want to see is mold that is growing more and more every day. While you may be able to get rid of some of the mold yourself at that moment, it's also extremely important that you determine the reason for the mold growth. Though there are multiple reasons for mold growth on ceilings, here are four that are generally the most common.

Roof Leaks

If you discover mold on your ceilings, there is a good chance you have a roof that is leaking. If this is not addressed as soon as possible, the mold will only continue to spread. Not only will this be unsightly, but it may also lead to health problems for those who already suffer from asthma or allergies.

Leaky Pipes

Along with a roof that may be leaking, finding mold on your ceilings may also indicate you have some pipes that may be leaking and are in need of repair. Therefore, along with contacting a roofing services company to inspect your roof, you may also need a plumber to examine your pipes to find out where the leak is occurring.

Lack of Insulation

In some parts of a building, ceilings may not contain much if any insulation. When this is the case, the result is warm air and cold air coming together in the same spot, which results in the forming of condensation. As the water is left standing in these conditions, it is the perfect way for mold to start growing, which it can do in as little as 24 hours.

High Humidity Levels

If you live in an area where it is very warm and the humidity levels are always high, this is likely the reason why you now have mold on your ceilings. When you spot mold on your ceilings under these conditions, it usually means your building's ventilation is inadequate. To keep mold from forming under these conditions, using a dehumidifier will often work very well.

If you notice mold on your ceilings, don't ignore the problem. While you may have a mold problem, there is also a more serious problem that is actually setting the stage for mold growth. In some instances where mold growth is extensive, you may need the services of mold remediation experts to inspect and clean your building. Whatever the case may be, always address mold growth on your ceilings immediately.