Kitchen Design
Quick Project: Brighten the Space Under Your Kitchen Sink
Give yourself a lift with a refreshed place for your kitchen cleaning supplies
Around this time every year, I seem to go through a mega must clean everything NOW phase. From top to bottom, the house is emptied of anything that doesn't matter to me anymore, but it never fails that I eventually find myself running out of steam. That's usually when I change gears and find small projects that will jive with my recent ambition behind "make everything look pretty."
When we bought our house, the area under the kitchen sink bothered me to no end. It was like sand in my eyes. Ugh, it was so ugly and could never in a million years pass for feeling clean, and it still had some of the previous owners' stuff in it. So one day when I didn't have anything going on, I finally made my way to the hardware store, grabbed a stack of cheap, clean-looking tile and got to work. It's a great little project for a rainy day and will help even a space that holds four days of garbage feel fresh.
When we bought our house, the area under the kitchen sink bothered me to no end. It was like sand in my eyes. Ugh, it was so ugly and could never in a million years pass for feeling clean, and it still had some of the previous owners' stuff in it. So one day when I didn't have anything going on, I finally made my way to the hardware store, grabbed a stack of cheap, clean-looking tile and got to work. It's a great little project for a rainy day and will help even a space that holds four days of garbage feel fresh.
This is what the area looked like before I started. A dark, dingy space with gross peeling tile that had probably been sitting there since the '80s. Yeah, like I said, this part of the house really, really bugged me.
So with two hours on my hands, I ripped out the yucky tile, scrubbed the entire space and proceeded to chuck almost everything in sight. I used a utility knife to cut the new laminate tile, put it all in and then painted the interior walls. I like any area that can feel dirty to be white, because it always appears to be much cleaner than dark colors would allow for. I put things that I enjoy using inside, closed the doors and called it a day. Over time, I've added some cleaning products that are nice to look at, which seems to be the key in getting through any cleaning task that bores me.
Being able to pull out pretty supplies makes it much easier to get through the day's chores. Read on for a few suggestions I came up with if you choose to try this simple project.
Being able to pull out pretty supplies makes it much easier to get through the day's chores. Read on for a few suggestions I came up with if you choose to try this simple project.
Short Broom
I keep a small straw broom under my sink along with a dust pan, which makes for a quick reach after prepping dinner. I like the fun colors these come in.
Melded Poppies Double Hook - Anthropologie.com
And, of course, you'll want a hook to hang your broom on. I added a hook to the inside of my cabinet, which seems to be a practical use of an area that's not generally taken advantage of.
Le Chef French White Ceramic Square 1.5-gallon Compost Pail
This cute compost bin takes up a minimal amount of space, which is perfect for housing it under the kitchen sink. I like this particular design much more than the ones that imitate a steel garbage can, because really, who wants to look at a garbage can on their counter while they're cooking?
JR Watkins Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
J.R. Watkins All Purpose Cleaner is my go-to product whenever I'm wiping the counters, and honestly, it makes me excited to clean! I've been using this stuff for years and it still gives me a little pep in my step every time I pull it out. I'm a sucker for pretty product design and especially enjoy the lemon-scented one.
French Pop-up Sponges from Caldrea
I found these sponges a few weeks ago and I really like the fact that they come in a flattened state, taking up only a small amount of space before they are used. My favorite part is that they visually appealing, especially when compared to those ugly blue ones we're used to.
JR Watkins Natural Room Spray
Another J.R. Watkins product, this room spray is great to use once you are finished cooking. With more than 600 spritzes per bottle, you'll have this around for quite awhile.
Dishwashing Brush
Dishes are one of those things that I really don't feel like doing after cooking an entire meal, but pretty scrub brushes like this one always lead me to think I'm actually doing something enjoyable.
Method Dish Soap
I really like Method's line of dish soap. The interesting bottles are a nice change from the more common brands, and the scents are great, too.
Murphy's Oil Soap
Although there has been some controversy over this product, I've never had a problem with it myself and it ranks quite high on my list of favorites. It makes tired wood floors gleam in the morning sun and lasts for quite a while, too.
Target:Michael Graves 4 Gallon Rolling Bucket
So, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to fit this rolling bucket under the sink, but if you can, you should try it out. It’s a Michael Graves design for Target, and I’ve been eyeing it for a few months now. It’s perfect for those of use who usually have to drag a mop bucket around to clean an entire floor of the house.
So, what do you think? Can you benefit from this easy weekend project? What quick spruce-up do you feel like doing now?
Next: 15 Quick Kitchen Fixes
So, what do you think? Can you benefit from this easy weekend project? What quick spruce-up do you feel like doing now?
Next: 15 Quick Kitchen Fixes