5-Steps to a Family-Friendly Kitchen: Ideas for Organization and Creating Calm

This morning, we are bringing you a guest post from Emily Creswick of Zillow. Emily is here to give us some ideas of how to make a kitchen more family-friendly. I have long stressed the importance of eating meals together and cooking and working on kitchen chores together. Emily is giving us some ideas on how to keep it together in the the kitchen and make it an organized space ready for family time! Thank you, Emily:

The kitchen is the heart of the home; a bustling space for cooking, dining and family socializing. But for busy families, the kitchen commonly becomes an area of chaos. The clear surfaces become dumping grounds for random belongings and disorder and clutter take over – making preparing a meal an absolute nightmare.

A family-friendly kitchen benefits current homeowners and improves resale value by appealing to buyers. Functional kitchen spaces reduce stress for residents and are major selling points for home shoppers. Here are five steps to follow in order to update and organize the kitchen to create a space for everyone to enjoy.

1. Remove Clutter
Clutter is a common trait of a dysfunctional kitchen. It’s caused by excessive food, dishes, containers, appliances, etc. that flood cupboards and counter tops. Tackle clutter by throwing  out items such as containers with missing lids, broken appliances and worn out utensils. Only keep appliances out or accessible if they’re used frequently. Otherwise, store the mixer or cake stand in the pantry or secondary storage area. Remove personal belongings such as school bags, car keys and mail. Create dedicated areas to store these non-kitchen items to avoid the after school or work offload. Great solutions include coat and key hooks, mail baskets or entry hall benches.

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Mother-daughter bonds bloom with Yapa Events and Bloom Salon

**Disclosure: We did receive complimentary admission via Yapa Events in order to make an accurate review. No compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Two weeks ago, my daughter and I were invited to a lovely Mother's Day Celebration organized by Yapa Events at Bloom Salon in Arlington Heights. We were so excited about this event because it provided us with some girl time as well as a new adventure. We had very special experience and were introduced to two new businesses in Arlington Heights at the same time.

Bloom Salon sports a very relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. Such a perfect place for a Mother's Day Celebration involving some pampering for the little princesses! When we entered, we were warmly greeted with a cute little card displaying my daughter's choices for services. Of course, she could not decide right away! Decisions, decisions!

We were engaged in activities together during the entire event. We spent quite some time in a cozy nook area working on crafts. First, we made a lovely flower pot for some pretty spring flowers. Working together, we were able to make a adorable pot full of cloth patches, pearls and paint. Next, I urged my daughter to have one of her services. Sipping some pink lemonade, she expressed desire to complete a second craft. She never can turn down a craft! Together, we made a cute Japanese blossom branch. Such a beautiful craft! I am sure we will replicate it in the future.

Yapa Events is so much about this special bonding time between parents or grandparents with children. Joan Dubnicka, the mastermind behind Yapa Events, is quite passionate about providing memorable opportunities through her events. In the past, Joan ran the Little Village Playplace in downtown Arlington Heights. Her role at the Playplace allowed her to witness some of these special moments up close. Captivated by these moments, Joan sees Yapa Event's mission as a pathway to creating more bonding moments for families while exploring the assets of the local community. These moments are the ones our children will remember. My daughter will definitely talk about our Mother's Day Celebration for some time!

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