Friday, May 3, 2013

Set Up My Kitchen & Dining Room

A well-organized kitchen is easy to keep clean.


Consider the amount of cooking you do and the number of people using your kitchen. Whether you have a large family or live alone, your kitchen is often the room where guests come together. Your dining room may be the place where you sit every evening for dinner, or it may be a place reserved for holidays and celebrations. No matter how you use these rooms, the way you work with the space is essential to their functionality.


Instructions


Kitchen


1. Keep perishable food in the refrigerator.


Work with what you have. If your kitchen includes a pantry, use it to store food, paper plates and paper towels. If you only have cupboard space, find the best way to store nonperishable items according to how often you eat each food. Items such as flour, sugar, rice and cereals can be stored in airtight containers to preserve their freshness and keep common household bugs like ants from becoming a problem.


2. However you decorate your kitchen, keep functionality in mind.


Maintain new, clutter-free countertops by only displaying the small appliances you use daily. Use cupboards to store toasters or waffle irons if you only use them occasionally. Use decorative canisters to store flour, sugar or dry pasta. Fresh fruit looks like a centerpiece when placed in a colorful bowl.


3. Use a ceramic or metal container for cooking utensils to add a decorative touch.








Place eating utensils near other items that you use with them such as plates and bowls. If you have plenty of drawer space, consider placing cooking utensils near the stove. Towels are most functional in a drawer near the sink because when your hands or dishes are wet, you'll want easy access. The same goes for aluminum foil, plastic wrap and storage bags. Their best place is likely in a drawer near the counter where you prepare food for lunches or pack away leftovers. Plastic lids and containers should be stacked neatly in a cupboard or drawer.


4. If you only use a few glasses or cups, place them on the lowest shelf and store ones used less often on a higher shelf.


Store plates, cereal bowls and dinnerware in a cupboard close to where you and your family will be able to easily reach them. Cups and mugs should be kept near the refrigerator because this will cut down on the liquids being carried across the room, and possibly spilling.


5. Cake, muffin, cookie sheets and loaf pans can be stored together.


Keep pots and pans near the stove to save time for the cook. Bakeware should also be stored near the oven. Organize your kitchen around personal habits and comforts.


Dining Room


6. Simple centerpieces and place settings will add elegance to your dining room.


Choose furniture you find appropriate for your lifestyle. If you use your dining room for family meals, avoid fabric-covered chairs, which may be susceptible to stains. If it's a room centered around entertaining, your choice in furnishings may include a wine cabinet or a China hutch.








7. The right lighting will add elegance to your dining room.


Place lamps in your dining room to create a warm, relaxing atmosphere. Chandeliers do not have to be expensive to add style above your table. Window coverings, whether decorative or plain, also affect the way light adds to the room's ambiance.


8. Keep the dining room clutter-free while still offering interesting focal points.


Add a runner, a tablecloth or silk flowers to your table. Place a rug beneath the table and add artwork to your walls. Decorate the room with your favorite vases. The table should be the focal point of your dining room, with everything else adding to the room's style.

Tags: your kitchen, dining room, your dining room, your dining, cooking utensils, dining room