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After several months away, preparations for a new school year can be overwhelming and intimidating.

Whether you spent the summer relaxing or working, transition to the routine of the school week can be a challenge. Some adjustments to personal habits, mental preparation, and simple organization of supplies can boost confidence of both the students and parents as the school year begins. Below are a few helpful tips:

1) A designated work area can make studying more fun and help motivate your child. Students require a work space that is quiet and limits distractions so that they can study effectively. As young as they may be it is beneficial to create an environment where they are able to complete their home assignments, study and read. To maximize efficiency in this work space, try out these simple organization tips:

a) Keep the area neat and clutter free. Ensure that there is adequate space for the basics and get rid of everything else!

b) Having a personalized calendar to keep track of assignments throughout the school term can help students remember the work that needs to be done – some children need extra help remaining organized and remembering their assignments.

c) Including a clock in the study area can also help them stay on schedule. A clock matching the decor of the study area would be a great idea. Musical wall clocks that emit a tune after a certain period of time such as a cuckoo clock are great for children.
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Many homeowners dream of having a large kitchen with ample floor space that can accommodate all their appliances and furniture, possibly designed with a decent sized island capable of sitting the entire family. But the reality is that when the total floor space of the home is limited it usually results in a small kitchen in order to allow for the other rooms to be larger. And at times it may prove difficult trying to make a small space function as it should while making the room look stylish, and spacious. Difficult yes, but not impossible. Here are six (6) tips that you can use to give your small kitchen a spacious feel.

• A functional floor plan is important regardless of the size of your kitchen. The most fundamental appliances (the stove and the refrigerator) as well as everything else in the space should be easily accessible. Also, ensure that there is enough countertop, and cabinet and cupboard space.
• It will be very difficult for a compact kitchen to effectively function with large appliances that take up most of the space. When buying items for the kitchen you will need to scale down the size of the appliances to save on space.
• Using glass is one of the easiest ways to make a kitchen look and feel larger. Glass surfaces reflect light which helps visually expand the room. Consider including glass furniture, or glass counters, tiles, cabinets or doors. One or two mirrors can also be placed in strategic areas in the kitchen where they would be most effective in reflecting light.
• Using too many colors in a small space will overwhelm the room so consider sticking with a single color or a monochromatic color scheme. Light colors are known to reflect light and draw the eye upwards making ceilings appear higher and the room by extension larger. Regardless of the color(s) that you choose keep the kitchen appliances and décor in mind.
• In a small room storage is extremely important so having ample cupboard space is a must. However, having too much of anything has its drawbacks. In the case of cabinetry including too much can make the room feel claustrophobic. One way to get an open feel while maximizing on storage space is by trading the cupboards for open shelving. If you do not like this option, cabinets with glass doors are a good alternative. Other options to consider are installing pot racks and spice holders on the walls. Or maybe including a pantry where items can be stored in bulk to cut down on the need for cupboards.
• Ensure there is sufficient light. Light plays a major role in the atmosphere of a room so no matter what you do to create a spacious environment, if the lighting in the room is bad it will always feel small and stuffy. To set an ideal ambiance, a compact kitchen requires a combination of both task lighting and atmospheric lighting.

Interior design is defined as the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building or room to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. As a home owner it is important that your home environment is healthy, while being both stylish and functional. In today’s article we share three simple interior design tips to improve your living room.

• Repainting the walls is a rather cost effective way to uplift any room. Consider adding a fresh coat of paint to bring new life into the living room. If your living room is not as large as you would like add light colors to help the space appear larger. A fresh coat of paint would not only be useful for the walls. Doors, tables and other pieces of furniture can make a big difference to a room with a little touch of paint.
• The inclusion of plants in your living room is a budget friendly way to beautify the room while adding a dash of color and texture. Not only do they add beauty but plants also help purify the air, making it easier to breathe and relax. This has been proven to reduce stress levels and improve focus and creativity.
• Rather than replacing your current pieces of furniture consider having them updated. Depending on the quality of your furniture, this can be a much more affordable option than replacing it. Give it serious consideration. Does your entire couch need to go or can a little bit of work make it as good as new while saving you money?

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If you could only have one in your dream home, would you rather an eat-in kitchen or a formal dining room?

The option of eating in the kitchen has always held a strong appeal. An eat-in kitchen is a kitchen designed to accommodate meals and is ideal for multitasking. It provides a place for friends and family members to casually socialize and enjoy a meal, while also serving as a food preparation area. In addition, an eat-in kitchen is not limited to any particular arrangement and chairs and tables can be added and rearranged at ease.

Depending on the size of your kitchen, you have a number of choices for creating an eat-in kitchen:

• Where there is not sufficient space a breakfast bar or Kitchen Island would work great with imaginative counter stools.
• If there is a bit more space available consider adding a welcoming breakfast area.
• For large kitchens in homes with large families including a dining table that seats a larger number of people is a good option. This provides the option of having a more formal dining area if a separate dining room is not an option.

If you desire to include an option for formal family meals or host formal social gatherings a dining room would be more beneficial than an eat-in kitchen. The typical dining room contains a table and chairs arranged along the ends of the table, with other pieces of practical storage or decorative furniture.

Décor such as flowers, vases, mirrors and photos of family or sceneries are excellent items for uplifting a dining room.  Corner tables are also great for a dining room design.  They can be used to display decorative items as well as to provide a place for visitors to rest items such as cell phones, glasses, etc. while they dine.  Cupboards to hold dining tools are both decorative and practical furniture that can be included in this space.

You do not necessarily have to make a choice between eat-in kitchen and a dining room. If the space available and your budget allows, you can have both an area for just your family to eat in a rush in the morning before going out for the day as well as for a space to spend quality time over a meal with family and for formal gatherings with both family and friends.