Home Improvement Blog

Many of us are visual eaters; we see food and eat some, we fill our plates and glasses, we pick at leftovers. The size of our dinnerware, how much counter space we see, and how many treats we see can all affect how much we eat. Sometimes it is the easiest solutions that create the biggest benefits. Try some of these ideas and see if they could work for you.

1. Keep less of a variety of treats in the house. We often eat more when we have more choices. If you only have 1 kind of chip in the house you won’t be tempted to try 3 varieties to see which you really want.

2. Rearrange your kitchen cabinet contents. Put your frequently used items where they are easy to reach. Make it easy to cook.

3. Adjust your lighting. Lights that are too bright where you eat could increase your appetite. Lights that are too dim can lower your inhibitions about how much you eat.

4. Use smaller plates. We tend to fill our plates; smaller plates hold less food.

5. Serve from the stove. We are less likely to get seconds if we have to consciously get up to get them.

6. Eliminate counter clutter. It is harder to prep food if there is no space to work. Clutter can cause stress, which releases cortisol, which can cause us to want to eat more. Clutter also leads to distraction and possibly mindless eating.

7. Switch glasses. We pay more attention to the height of our beverages, therefore we drink more from short, wide glasses and less from tall, thin glasses. Put higher calorie drinks in tall glasses and use wide glasses for water.

8. Keep treats out of sight. Seeing treats can make us want to eat them. Put them in opaque containers and on the back of the shelf.

9. Create an eating only zone. Keep your table clear. Laptops, mail, and car keys need their own space so your meals and snacks can have theirs.

10. Store food in small serving sizes. We eat and cook more food when we use large containers. Divvy up treats into single serving size containers.

11. Have healthy foods ready to go. If you are more likely to eat baby carrots rather than peeling and cutting regular carrots maybe the cost of baby carrots is worth it. Keep fruit and vegetables visible; make them an easy choice. Sometimes all we need is a few moments between thinking of a food and eating to slow down our impulse to eat. Storing treats in hard to see locations can slow us down. Storing fruits and vegetables where we can see them might make those a more likely choice.

Tour your kitchen; what do you see? How usable is your kitchen? Is it arranged so that you are inspired to eat healthy foods? Does it inspire you to sit and savor your food? If not, what can you do to change that? Read the rest of this entry »

From the name itself, we expect something where all the things we need in a kitchen would be meticulously arranged into a functional and aesthetically pleasing layout. For the sake of those who intend to find the ideal fitted kitchen design, here are some tips that you may want to consider in planning and refurbishing your own kitchen space.

1. The triangle design. There is an unwritten law that says the sink, fridge, and oven must be placed near each other, as these three are the most used components of the kitchen. You can start your design by planning where to place these three first.

2. Keep it ergonomic, especially for kitchens with limited space it is necessary to utilize the walls where fixed cabinets, smoke vents, and other things can be hung. However, we should also keep in mind the family members who are going to use it. For example, we ought to keep cabinets within reach without needing a ladder or stool to step on. The drawers and cabinets most frequently used dishes and silverware should be placed at the most accessible parts of the kitchen.

3. Allow for sufficient storage space. Extra storage is always favorable especially for families whose kitchens are actively used every day and a lot of appliances must be kept from gathering dust. Extra storage is also important keeping in mind where to keep the food bought in bulk.

4. Functionality must come with aesthetics. Together with planning the working parts you should match them with design that will promote the kitchen’s pleasant atmosphere. Elements such as lighting, color to match the rest of the house interior and materials to be used must be carefully planned to keep them cohesive. You can choose a particular theme to make it easier to decide.

5. Surfaces must be easy to keep clean. Kitchen work is usually messy, so choosing the appropriate surface is vital. The usual choices are granite, ceramic, and hard wood. These surfaces are resistant to being chipped and scratched from bumps and contact with appliances. Cleaning is also easy for smooth, non-porous materials as mentioned.
Deciding on what premade design to choose or making your own depends on how much you know about kitchen components. Prior to actual construction, you may want to browse through magazines or websites on home makeover ideas to get some useful ideas to apply to your own kitchen space. Several companies also offer complete services from planning to construction. Whatever the choice you make a fitted kitchen that reflects the family’s personality would be the best. Read the rest of this entry »