1. Terrarium planter
Can’t keep a plant alive to save your life? A terrarium planter, with a hardy cactus or even hardier air plant (which survives literally on air and mist), will make you feel as though you have a green thumb. It will make your home feel a little livelier as well.
Place one on a desk, in the kitchen or anywhere else you’d like to see a happy splash of stress-free greenery. With proper minimal maintenance, it’s virtually guaranteed to last all year and possibly for many more years to come.
Growing plants out of thin air
Can’t keep a plant alive to save your life? A terrarium planter, with a hardy cactus or even hardier air plant (which survives literally on air and mist), will make you feel as though you have a green thumb. It will make your home feel a little livelier as well.
Place one on a desk, in the kitchen or anywhere else you’d like to see a happy splash of stress-free greenery. With proper minimal maintenance, it’s virtually guaranteed to last all year and possibly for many more years to come.
Growing plants out of thin air
2. Picture rails
A picture rail lets you change your art display whenever the mood strikes, with no need to hammer a new nail every time you want to move a photo a little to the left or make room for new pieces. Installing picture rails is relatively easy. All you need is a screwdriver and a level.
In a tight foyer or hall, these ledges also can act as a place to set down keys, mail and other small items instead of having to squeeze in a full-depth shelf or console.
A picture rail lets you change your art display whenever the mood strikes, with no need to hammer a new nail every time you want to move a photo a little to the left or make room for new pieces. Installing picture rails is relatively easy. All you need is a screwdriver and a level.
In a tight foyer or hall, these ledges also can act as a place to set down keys, mail and other small items instead of having to squeeze in a full-depth shelf or console.
3. Tech-storage boxes
This photo shows some stylish accessories, but perhaps most important is what you don’t see: namely, the remote control. (It’s hidden in the small box on the lower left corner of the table.)
Grab a decorative hinged storage box to keep on your coffee or side table and you’ll have a perfect place to keep your remotes and other technological baubles. You won’t have to go looking for them every time you want to use them, and you won’t have to look at them the rest of the time.
This photo shows some stylish accessories, but perhaps most important is what you don’t see: namely, the remote control. (It’s hidden in the small box on the lower left corner of the table.)
Grab a decorative hinged storage box to keep on your coffee or side table and you’ll have a perfect place to keep your remotes and other technological baubles. You won’t have to go looking for them every time you want to use them, and you won’t have to look at them the rest of the time.
4. Charging station
Speaking of technology, charging cables are another modern necessity that seem impossible to escape. Outfit your closet, desk or kitchen with a charging station, and you’ll be able to keep your cables out of sight but at hand when you need them. Consider getting a custom drawer unit like this one from a closet company. Or drill a small hole in the back of a cabinet and thread the cables through the opening yourself.
Alternately, you can use butterfly clips from an office supply store to gather a few cables together and clip them to the back of a floating shelf or desk.
Speaking of technology, charging cables are another modern necessity that seem impossible to escape. Outfit your closet, desk or kitchen with a charging station, and you’ll be able to keep your cables out of sight but at hand when you need them. Consider getting a custom drawer unit like this one from a closet company. Or drill a small hole in the back of a cabinet and thread the cables through the opening yourself.
Alternately, you can use butterfly clips from an office supply store to gather a few cables together and clip them to the back of a floating shelf or desk.
5. Chopping station
Modern technology isn’t the only thing that can make a mess of your benchtops. Sometimes it feels as though no matter how much bench space you have, a task like chopping fruit or vegetables can take over the area.
That’s why I love this cutting board idea: replace a drawer with a rollout chopping board designed with a hole like this one. Position a garbage bin underneath the hole so you can easily slide the mess through the board and into the bin below. The setup creates a chopping and cleanup station that will save you some stress and mess.
Modern technology isn’t the only thing that can make a mess of your benchtops. Sometimes it feels as though no matter how much bench space you have, a task like chopping fruit or vegetables can take over the area.
That’s why I love this cutting board idea: replace a drawer with a rollout chopping board designed with a hole like this one. Position a garbage bin underneath the hole so you can easily slide the mess through the board and into the bin below. The setup creates a chopping and cleanup station that will save you some stress and mess.
6. Sink grate
I have one of these in my own kitchen, and I use it so much that I can’t imagine not having one anymore. A fitted grate that fills the bottom of the sink puts a separation between your dishes and the bottom surface, which helps avoid drainage issues and keeps the whole sink a little cleaner.
I also use mine as an out-of-sight drying rack, leaving my coffee cup or bowl to dry when I head to the studio in the morning. I arrive back home to a little less visible clutter on the bench, and that makes me love my kitchen even more.
I have one of these in my own kitchen, and I use it so much that I can’t imagine not having one anymore. A fitted grate that fills the bottom of the sink puts a separation between your dishes and the bottom surface, which helps avoid drainage issues and keeps the whole sink a little cleaner.
I also use mine as an out-of-sight drying rack, leaving my coffee cup or bowl to dry when I head to the studio in the morning. I arrive back home to a little less visible clutter on the bench, and that makes me love my kitchen even more.
7. Leaning mirror
Leaning a mirror against a wall (either sitting on the floor or on a table or shelf) avoids hanging a large amount of weight on one point of the wall, which can be much more structurally sound for a heavier piece.
It also makes anything reflected in it look a bit taller and thinner, which can be a flattering way to see yourself – especially after a big meal.
11 illusory uses for mirrors
Leaning a mirror against a wall (either sitting on the floor or on a table or shelf) avoids hanging a large amount of weight on one point of the wall, which can be much more structurally sound for a heavier piece.
It also makes anything reflected in it look a bit taller and thinner, which can be a flattering way to see yourself – especially after a big meal.
11 illusory uses for mirrors
8. Swing-arm plug-in sconce
Need to add a reading lamp, give some ambience to a dining table or shed a little light on a dark corner? How about all three? A plug-in sconce can do any of these things plus more and all without expensive electrical work.
Many units stay flat against the wall, perfect for adding light in tight spaces. However, an extended swing-arm sconce like this one is a popular option for those who want a light overhead – where you might otherwise see a hanging pendant – but don’t have the needed electrical wiring in the ceiling. They add a splash of architectural flair, and give you a bright outlook – or at least a brighter nook.
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What small thing could make your home more liveable this year? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Need to add a reading lamp, give some ambience to a dining table or shed a little light on a dark corner? How about all three? A plug-in sconce can do any of these things plus more and all without expensive electrical work.
Many units stay flat against the wall, perfect for adding light in tight spaces. However, an extended swing-arm sconce like this one is a popular option for those who want a light overhead – where you might otherwise see a hanging pendant – but don’t have the needed electrical wiring in the ceiling. They add a splash of architectural flair, and give you a bright outlook – or at least a brighter nook.
TELL US
What small thing could make your home more liveable this year? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more decorating ideas
@hsmeghan What is the brand of your stainless sink? It sounds great. Would love to get one for new house. Thanks!
Margaret17, it's an American Standard sink that came in a package with the cutting board, colander, and a stainless steel dishpan that also fits into the grooves so you can make the single bowl sink into a double if you need it. I bought it at Lowe's but I looked today and they are no longer carrying it. Not sure if it's being made anymore, couldn't find it on the American Standard website either. But I did find images for sinks with cutting boards when I googled that, and I think there are other kinds of sinks like this out there.
I paired the sink with a tall restaurant-style faucet with a spring made by Giagni. Here are some pics.
These were taken when it was brand new and shiny! I'm sorry I can't find more info on it for you. I can't believe they don't carry it anymore. It was something so different, it stood out to me. I wanted a single bowl sink but this setup seemed to me to give me flexibility in case I needed two bowls for some reason. The second "sink" is really just a glorified dishpan, though. And storing it is a little inconvenient since it's so big it doesn't fit under the sink well. Hope this helps anyway.