A great recipe for your next game day or party, this spicy Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip has all the flavors of hot wings and tastes great with chips or celery sticks!
Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
I have seen talk of this dip on Pinterest lately. It sounded super yummy and I had to see if it would be good in the crock-pot. And, it was. I will say that if you are not particularly crazy about hot and spicy food, you might want to only use 1/2 of the bottle of Frank's Red Hot sauce.
You can serve this delicious dip with tortilla chips, pita chips, chunks of bread, celery sticks or other cut veggies. It is so good!
After you have cooked the dip for the 2 hours, add the cooked chicken and cook 1 more hour. Then, set your slow cooker to the warm setting to keep the dip warm while serving at your party.
More Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Recipes:
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Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
With just 4 simple ingredients this fantastic buffalo chicken dip is sure to be a huge hit at your next party. So grab a bag of your favorite brand of tortilla chips and dig on in!
Print Recipe
Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
With just 4 simple ingredients this fantastic buffalo chicken dip is sure to be a huge hit at your next party. So grab a bag of your favorite brand of tortilla chips and dig on in!
Rating
Votes: 41 Rating: 4.02 You:
Rate this recipe!
Servings
10Servings
Prep Time
15Minutes
Cook Time
3Hours
Instructions
In a 3 quart Crock-Pot add the ranch dressing, hot sauce and cream cheese.
Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Once the cream cheese is melted, stir in the cooked chicken.
Cover and cook on LOW for an additional hour.
Turn the crock-pot on WARM to serve and serve with your favorite chips or cut up veggies.
Recipe Notes
This recipe uses cooked chicken not raw chicken. You can use leftover cooked chicken. For ease grab a rotisserie chicken from your grocery stores deli and use the meat from it in this dip. Or if you have the time you can toss a couple of chicken breasts or thighs seasoned with salt and pepper in your slow cooker the day before and cook them for a couple of hours. Put the cooked chicken in the refrigerator and pull it out the next day before making this recipe.
If you like this recipe or find it useful, it would be lovely if you would consider leaving a nice 4 or 5 star rating. Rating is done by clicking on the stars above.
The outdoor room with an attached open courtyard on this house saw little use during hot summers and cold winters. To convert it into an indoor room that could be used year round, we enclosed the opening with arched, glass doors and added a gas fireplace.
Other changes included:
Adding a separate HVAC unit to heat and cool the room.
Applying stucco to the outside walls.
Painting the vaulted, V-groove wood ceiling.
Adding a wine bar with wine rack and refrigerated cooler.
Concealing the TV over the fireplace behind a retractable painting.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Danny Lipford: This week on Today's Homeowner we're converting a cool covered outdoor living space into an even cooler indoor space by building a single wall. We're not only creating an area that can be used year around, we're adding some great amenities to make it the most popular room in the house.
Now what a beautiful neighborhood filled with some very attractive houses. Well, I understand this street didn't look this way about 15 years ago. Now we're in Mobile, Alabama and as part of an urban revitalization program they removed all of the old derelict buildings and then made all of the lots available so that homeowners could come down and experience downtown living and live in a house that is built just to their standards.
That's exactly what John and Brenda Elsevier have done, they built a really nice house, very attractive, a lot of cool features and exactly the type of structure they want to live in. They also have the very neat outside living area that they use almost year round and we're going to make just a few alterations actually some of the work's already started on it, so that they can use it all year long. We're going to let Brenda tell you the whole story.
Brenda when I first saw this room I was amazed at how large it is, this is a big place.
Brenda Elsevier: It is, it's a room that we've had a lot of fun in, a lot of parties in, but we've finally got to where we are now, we're not using it as much as we should be using it. So, we want to get more use out of it.
Danny Lipford: What's motivating you to do all this? Because it looks pretty darn perfect like it is.
Brenda Elsevier: It is perfect except for a couple of things. One is that living in downtown Mobile we're near the coal plants, we're near the boxcars that carry the coal, and if the winds blowing the wrong way, unfortunately we have coal dust in here.
Danny Lipford: Really? It infiltrates even though you're a little ways off the water here.
Brenda Elsevier: It does, it really does, and I can clean the courtyard completely, come in the next day, it's ready to be cleaned again.
Danny Lipford: Yeah, well I see this. Of course the guys have already started stirring up some dust but I guess I can see what you mean there.
Brenda Elsevier: It's black.
Danny Lipford: Wow. Boy, a nice white blouse like you have there wouldn't stay white very long would it?
Brenda Elsevier: Oh no, I wouldn't get near that right now, and of course the other reason is the temperature here in Mobile. It only allows us to spend so many months out here and be comfortable. The heaters are great in the wintertime but summer we just you know, it's not cool enough out here.
Danny Lipford: Yeah, well it's well designed and you can certainly benefit from this room all the way around and all the different parts of your house but what are the plans here? I know we're closing it in, but give us a few of the details of some of the things you're planning on doing.
Brenda Elsevier: Well, of course first thing is the fountain has to go, that's my heartache.
Danny Lipford: I've heard that's a little sad moment there.
Brenda Elsevier: Yes, it's a very sad moment because the fountain was the center of this room. A lot of people when they walk through the front door thought they were in the house.
And then they looked here, and they were like, "Oh my gosh, we've never seen this before." Like I said I have a favorite picture of one of my grandsons sitting in there. So that will be blown up and framed to remember my fountain by.
Danny Lipford: But I understand you're going to put a fireplace in so that will still be a similar look.
Brenda Elsevier: It will be, we're really excited because we thought well if we close this room off all it takes is closing this opening. So let's put a fireplace in and of course man has to have his TV above the fireplace, and then the doors on both sides, the glass doors.
Which will still give us plenty of light in here. We're not really losing what this room is about. You know basically that's it, we will take the heaters out, redo the ceiling.
Danny Lipford: Yeah the ceiling's beautiful. What are you planning on doing with that?
Brenda Elsevier: Well, we want to keep, we want to go white up there and you know get it since it's kind of faded some, we want to go white up there and do it all wooden colors. We've got to lighten it up.
Danny Lipford: I see a lot of beach houses that way where you have the one by six V-groove like, and almost kind of a whitewash look to it.
Brenda Elsevier: That's what we're looking for.
Danny Lipford: Is that right? Great.
Brenda Elsevier: That's what we're looking for right here, but you know basically we want this room to really be one you can live in. We have one living area now, when my grandchildren come over, and Papi wants to watch the news it doesn't work. Now the grandchildren can come out here, Papi can watch his news in there.
Danny Lipford: That's perfect.
Brenda Elsevier: Great area.
Danny Lipford: Well, I'll tell you I know the guys are about to come back from break and they're going to be tearing out the fountain so I'm going to escort you inside to kind of keep down the trauma a little bit.
Brenda Elsevier: I don't want to see that.
Danny Lipford: Brenda has a great attitude, but it's a good thing we're getting her out of here because the guys really tear into that precious fountain of hers with a jackhammer.
Meanwhile Mark the foreman here starts peeling off the stucco around the cased opening so that we can tie it into the framing. Now this kind of demolition is hard work and you have to do it all by hand, but in this case, the debris has to be removed from the jobsite the same way.
I've lost count of the number of wheelbarrow loads that have gone up and down this narrow alley to the trailer but I suspect these guys will remember every single one of them over the next few days.
Under the stucco above the opening Mark finds some pretty serious wood rot damage that has to come out of there, but fortunately the new wall will support some of the load this beam used to carry.
Now since the inside and outside will be on the same level, the guys seal the underside of the treated base plate with a rubber membrane material before framing the wall up above it.
New laminated beams will carry the weight over the two doorways and in very little time, the inside walls with the fireplace are going in. While these guys wrap up this let's check out Joe's Simple Solution.
Joe Truini: Did you know that falls are the number one cause of death and injury around the home? That's why it's so important to make your house as safe as possible at every stage of life. Now wooden steps are particularly dangerous because they become wet and slippery when they are outdoors, so one way to protect yourself is to put down abrasive strips. You can get this at any hardware store or home center, it comes in various widths and it's basically sandpaper with an exterior adhesive on the back.
Now, all you need to do is peel off the wax paper backing and stick it down. And you want to place it relatively close to the front edge, the leading edge of the step because that's where you're going to be putting your foot down. So this is about a half inch or so away.
So peel off the backing, press it down, you'll notice that I snipped off the corners because that will reduce the chance of it peeling up. Now you just have to put one strip on each of the treads and make all the steps really safe.
Danny Lipford: What a nasty dreary day, it's really limiting the amount of work we can do on this project. Now this project is a little unique, what we're doing is closing in an open patio area by installing a couple door units with a fireplace in the middle so that the homeowners can use this great big room everyday of the year.
Now originally it was pretty nice looking with a large fountain area right in the middle and you know it seemed like a good idea but again by closing it up they can get a lot more use out of this place.
Now the door units we'll be using will match what is existing, with a two full view glass doors with an arched transom above it. We'll also be matching the stucco finish that's on the interior of the walls, around the doors as well as on this framework that will house a gas fireplace.
Now a lot of people are finding out about how you can put a gas fireplace here and a nice large flat screen TV above it, and that's what we'll be doing on this project.
And just think about how nice this area will be on a winter day, you've got the fire going, you've got the football game on, plenty of natural light coming in, both the new doors, as well as the large window up above that's part of the original construction and you've got the grill going over there. Pretty nice scenario. But it'll have to wait until the weather clears up so that we can get these doors installed.
Once it does there's a little cleanup to be done before the doors can go in, like trimming the stucco back neatly around the openings and removing a few bumps we found in the concrete so that the thresholds will sit nice and level.
Because the top of these doors are arched we left the plywood sheathing long so that we could mark it fit the doors exactly once they were out on the site. Then it's simply a matter of following the lines with a jigsaw to cut out any of the excess sheathing.
Housewrap goes on over the new plywood to seal out the moisture and the same rubber gasket material that was used earlier under the wall goes down before the doors are set in place. The prep work pays off because the fit is perfect and that's what we want. These are high efficiency door units with insulated low-E glass panels so we don't want to compromise that with a sloppy installation. Now once we're sure that the jams are plumb the units can be nailed in place.
You know for a little extra strength Mark replaces several of the hinge screws with long three-inch screws that will tie into the studs behind the door jams. With the doors in the focus can now turn to the inside and modifying the fireplace wall for a flat panel TV, the owner has his eye on.
And after the opening is cut a platform is framed inside the wall to support the TV. Then finally the fireplace itself can be slipped into position and secured to the framing.
Well our doors are all in place, that means we're sealed off from the cold weather outside, now you know when you are choosing any type of door or window for your house, especially one with a lot of glass like this, make sure it's low-E glass, that means that it will prevent any of the buildup or at least reduce the heat buildup that you'll have when you have a lot of glass. It will also prevent any fading from taking place on rugs or furniture or drapes or anything like that.
Now, to keep this place comfortable during those cold months the fireplace should do a lot to really provide the heat to use this room we'll need to keep it nice and comfortable, a gas fireplace and it does provide a lot of heat.
But to be comfortable all year long homeowners are installing a new air conditioning and heating system that will be positioned up in the large attic space that we have up above the existing part of the house. It'll be positioned horizontally and then we'll have vents here and another vent over there that they have to cut and enlarge.
Now, of course with all the activity that's taking place in here, with carpenters doing some final work and our air conditioning/heating contractor spending a lot of time in the attic getting our new system in place, our stucco contractor finally has gotten a start on the outside, after that he'll be moving inside.
The first step in this process is hanging the cement backer board that will form the foundation for our stucco system. This stuff is screwed in place much like drywall but it is a lot more difficult to cut than drywall since the chief component is cement. The trim and accent pieces though are cut from foam blocks so it's a lot easier to work with.
Now, once the trim is in place the base coat starts going on. The fiberglass mesh they're embedding around the trim will add strength and kind of tie everything together. You know there's a lot of detail in this small job so it takes a little while to trim everything out.
Now while these guys keep plugging away at the stucco let's head over to the home center to see what Emilie has for this week's Best New Product.
Emilie Barta: Every now and then a product comes along that really makes sense. Like accent lighting without the need to hire an electrician for installation. The problem is that many of them are poorly made, they don't last very long and frankly they look really cheap.
Well Hampton Bay has solved all of these problems with their new LED Puck lights. As the name implies they're the size and shape of a hockey puck. And with a dozen LED lights to power each one you can be sure you'll get some decent lighting. They produce very little heat, they're cool to the touch and they are 50 percent more energy efficient than a standard light.
These puck lights look great no matter where you put them. They have an ultra long life of up to 20 years and they're designed for do it yourself installation. They're perfect for display cabinets, under cabinet lighting or any other indoor application. And you can buy them individually for about 15 dollars or in packs of 3 for just under 30.
When you look at how simple they are to install coupled with the energy efficiency and good looks, the Hampton Bay LED puck lights are a bright idea for any home.
Danny Lipford: Well, we're back out on this interesting renovation where we're converting outdoor living space into indoor space. You know the homeowners love this area of their home but they decided in order to enjoy it year round it needed to be heated and cooled.
Well, we're helping them with that by enclosing what was open with a wall, and installing some energy efficient door units that very much match the existing doors so that no one will know that we built on anything or any renovations taken place, which is always a good thing.
Then to take the place of what was the focal point, a nice little fountain, now we have a fireplace and we'll be installing a large flat screen TV up above it. You know this place is set up for entertaining with a nice grill in the corner that was part of the original construction, has some very good ventilation to draw all that smoke out.
Over on this side our cabinet man added a nice little wine bar in this corner, you have your red wine up above and you'll be able to put your white wines in the wine cooler that we'll be installing a little bit later. Also, love the way this ceramic contractor installed this backsplash, a good little accent point goes real well with the granite countertop.
Well, you know even though you have a nice area that's set up for entertaining you got to do a little work from time to time. This is a little computer desk, you can have your computer, books and different things here, and will probably be a pretty nice little environment to sit there and browse around on the Internet a little bit and maybe pay a few bills.
Well things are moving along on this project and it won't be long before we can turn it over to the homeowners but the next step is to change this stained ceiling into one that's white.
Seems like a simple enough job but when you're dealing with a ceiling this high that means there's a lot of ladders and scaffolding involved in every step of the process, including all of the prep work.
The fixtures that stay have to be covered up with plastic and the ones that are being taken out like the radiant heaters have to be removed. Now the walls are taped and also masked with plastic before the painters gear up to start their spraying. As you can see spraying requires a lot of cover up work but that time is easily outweighed by the time you actually save painting the ceiling.
Now, you can see how quickly this primer is going on with this airless sprayer not to mention the fact that the finish will be a lot smoother than a roller or brush could create. Now the sprayer is a professional tool but you can rent them usually for around 75 dollars a day. Well worth the cost for the speed that it adds. At the moment, the air in here is a little foggy but Allen's up in the attic with a great tip to help you clear the air during a renovation.
Allen Lyle: You know it's really cool the way they tied in the return air into the existing gable vent but it brings up a very good point, any time that you are in a remodeling project you're going to create a lot of dust and you don't want that dust to affect your existing heating and cooling system.
So you want to change a filter regularly, and when I say change it regularly I mean at least once a week during the progress of your remodeling. And this is one of the few times that I don't recommend a good filter.
I'd get one of these, this is cost of about one or two dollars at your hardware store but check it out. Here's what it's already stopped going into this system. This is the type of things that can really bog down your heating and cooling system but once it's done, the project is complete then you'll want to pick up one of the nicer filters like this.
Now I will tell you this: they cost a lot more but they last about three times longer and once it's in place well you'll breathe a very healthy sigh of relief.
Bitsy: Danny, my kids and I have really bad allergies. Is there really anything worth using to keep the dust and pollen out of my house?
Danny Lipford: You know it's really pretty ironic that as more people are recognizing the value of properly sealing their homes to increase energy efficiency, the resulting effect has been a dramatic reduction of indoor air quality.
Now there's a lot of heating and cooling systems out there that are designed to remove those allergens but they can get a little expensive. For existing homes your best bet is to replace those plain fiberglass air filters that you may have with a two or three stage filter.
Just be sure to look for high-density carbon or polycarbon in the filters description. Also make sure the filter is electrostatically charged like this one here. A filter with electrostatically charged fibers will perform a lot better than just those regular filters.
Now you can find these filters at a lot of different home centers but a lot of them can also be purchased online. Now you'll pay a little bit more for these filters than normal filters but they'll last about three times longer and the health value is definitely worth it.
We started off this week with a covered courtyard basically an outdoor room covered overhead and surrounded on three sides. It was a great spot except for the constant supply of coal dust from the nearby port and all the heat during the summer.
So we removed the owners' beloved fountain and went to work building a wall to enclose the room. A pair of great glass door units went in to keep the outdoor access and natural light while the focal point shifted from the fountain to a really nice fireplace inside.
To keep it all comfortable we added a brand new heating and cooling system that was tucked away in the adjacent attic space. This new indoor patio is pretty spectacular. To compliment the existing grill we added a wine bar so this place is perfect for entertaining.
And along with the fireplace Brenda's husband got his TV, but this one can be disguised as art work when he isn't watching the ballgame. The new doors blend beautifully with the ones that were already here and because of their high efficiency they'll keep the power bills in line as well. Now, the area seems even larger now that it's enclosed thanks to the newly painted white ceiling.
As Brenda mentioned earlier she was really concerned she would miss her fountain that served as the focal point out in the courtyard, well she has the next best thing. A waterfall that circulates the water and still creates that sound of water that so many people find appealing.
Hey, you know this was a pretty tricky job, having to match the stucco, the floor tiles, the windows and doors but it all worked out. And now they can use this room that they call their bonus room all year long instead of just when the weather's really nice.
Hey, I hope you enjoyed seeing this one come together, hope to see you next week here on Today's Homeowner. I'm Danny Lipford.
More about this episode
A kitchen facelift can be an easy project and will net some great results, we'll show you how next week.
Completed room after courtyard conversion.
While this covered courtyard featured a beautiful brick fountain, it was hard to keep clean and received little use during the hot summer months along the Gulf Coast. To remedy these problems, the homeowners decided to enclose it by adding a fireplace flanked by glass doors.
Outdoor courtyard room with fountain before conversion.
Framing
Since the outside entranceway was level with the room, a rubber membrane was placed under the treated 2" x 4" sill to prevent water from seeping inside.
The exterior wall was framed using laminated beams to support the weight over the door openings. After the wall had been sheathed in plywood, the arched door units were held in place and the outline of the opening traced around them. A jigsaw was then used to cut out the opening.
Doors
The doors from JELD-WEN Windows & Doors included a special energy efficient Low-E coating on the glass that reduces the transmission of heat and harmful UV rays. This not only saves energy, but keeps furniture and carpets from fading.
After the exterior wall had been covered with housewrap, the doors were set in place using the same rubber gasket material to seal the thresholds to the floor.
When the door units were square and level, the flange around the casing was nailed to the wall. For added security, several of the hinge screws were replaced with longer 3" ones that go all the way through the casing and into the studs.
Fireplace
Openings were cut in the interior framing for the fireplace insert and flat screen TV above it. The fireplace unit is a ventless gas model, which is important since a chimney would have blocked the existing window above it.
Heating and Cooling
To heat and cool the additional space, a separate unit was installed in the attic with vents cut into the room. Since a major renovation project like this can generate a lot of dust, it's important to change the air filter at least once a week during construction. While an inexpensive fiberglass filter can be used for this, replace it with a high quality filter when the job is done.
Stucco
When the framing had been completed, cement backer board was screwed to the plywood on the exterior wall to provide a firm foundation for the coats of stucco. Since backer board is hard to cut and shape, trim and accent pieces were made from foam sheets with fiberglass mesh used to give the stucco added strength.
Painting
One of the more challenging tasks was painting the vaulted ceiling. Due to its height, scaffolding had to be set up in the room so the painters could reach it. After the walls, floor, and cabinets had been covered with plastic, the ceiling was sprayed white.
Amenities
The room includes a wine bar with a rack for red wine and a refrigerated cooler for white.
The flat screen television above the fireplace can be concealed behind a retractable painting when not in use.
Other Tips From This Episode
Simple Solutions with Joe Truini: Nonslip Steps
Falls are the number one cause of injury around the home, and outdoor steps are often the culprit since they become slippery when wet. The solution is to install self-adhesive abrasive strips on the treads. After cutting the strips to the desired length, trim the corners at a 45° angle to prevent them from peeling up. Then remove the protective backing and press in place near the front edge of each step. Nonslip strips are available at The Home Depot stores in the tape department.
Best New Products with Emilie Barta: Hampton Bay LED Accent Lights
These surface mounted accent lights from Hampton Bay are perfect for under cabinets or as display lighting. The LED bulbs are cool to the touch and use half the electricity of incandescents. Best of all, they're easy to install and last up to 20 years. Hampton Bay LED Accent lights are available at The Home Depot stores in plug-in or battery powered models.
Ask Danny: Allergy Relief
Danny, my kids and I have really bad allergies. Is there anything worth using to keep the dust and pollen out of my house? -Bitsy from Atlanta
The first line of defense against airborne allergens in the home is the filter on your heating and cooling unit. Choose an electrostatically charged filter with a high microparticle performance rating such as Filtrete High Performance filters from 3M. While they cost more than inexpensive fiberglass filters, they'll do a much better job of cleaning the air and last about three times longer.
Power tools used on Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford® are provided by Ryobi.
The living room is one of the most important areas in your house for a great hosting experience. It's likely you and your guests will spend countless hours in this room, discussing and entertaining.
Decorating your living room properly will deliver deeply satisfying living for your leisure time. To get there, however, you must pay attention to all of the following areas:
1. the colors that you select
2. material and quality of seats and furniture
3. wall decorations and art
4. lighting and light fixtures
Below we show you some great ideas for decorating your living room.
The Best Colors for Your Living Room
One area that will have a disproportionate impact on the mood of your living room is the color you choose for the walls. While you can install wallpaper to change the look of certain walls, there are areas that wallpaper cannot cover. Getting the wall color right, therefore, gives you the best shot at creating a remarkable effect.
Some of the best color palettes for living rooms include:
1. White - White walls add a touch of class. They are the perfect backdrop for decorating with upscale furniture.
2. Turquoise - This color is great for creating an informal but refined feel. Your kids and family will love the refreshing mood this color creates.
3. Cream - Striking a balance between formal and informal, cream-colored walls create a quiet, soothing effect.
Furniture Choices
With your wall color selection made, you should select furniture that pairs well with the colors you've already chosen. For example, combining white couches with white walls will create resonance in your room design.
Make sure to provide ample seating to avoid crowding. Add multiple sofas, easy chairs and other seats that can accommodate a complete roomful of people, depending on the size of the room.
Furniture like TV stands and tables should generally blend in with the colors of the room and ceiling. There are some natural materials, however, that can work regardless of the colors on the walls. For example, wooden table surfaces look good whether your walls are white, blue or another color.
Lighting Ideas
You can greatly improve the aesthetics of a living room with bright lighting and impressive light fixtures.
To start, you can consider a beautiful chandelier in the center to provide light around the whole room. This central masterpiece ensures adequate lighting throughout the living room while adding an air of elegance.
You can then add to the light sources in the living room with individual lights on tables and around the walls in areas where people will not knock them down.
Carpeting
Consider adding carpeting to your living room to create a comfortable walking area. Carpeting lets you and your guests go barefoot if you choose. The living room almost demands this since you will want to take off your shoes and kick back on occasion. Warm plush carpets provide a good, comfortable surface for this. There are many choices when it comes to carpet size.
If your living room is very large, you can opt for wall-to-wall carpeting. On the other hand, if it's smaller, you can add just an area rug in the place where you will sit. For example, you can have a rug around the sitting and TV area where your kids will play.
The advantage of area rugs over wall to wall carpeting is, mainly, lower costs and ease of replacement. You can completely change the area rug and create a new aesthetic in a fraction of the time it would take to begin installing new wall-to-wall carpeting.
Art Ideas for Your Living Room
Many homeowners like to have some wall art in their living room. If your living room is spacious, it can accommodate a good-sized piece of art mounted alongside one wall. In some instances, you can consider multiple art pieces. Invariably, tasteful art adds to the sophistication of a living room. It adds an interesting item that sparks many conversations from impressed guests.
Selecting art is an opportunity to express your unique personality. If you are fairly conservative, you can select some classical type pieces that portray a quiet life. If you are more adventurous, you can experiment with a post-modern impressionist piece that others might consider risky. It's your space, and so feel free to decorate it to express who you are.
Rose is a full-time freelance writer who frequently writes about education, special education, DIY projects, food, Milwaukee, and more.
How to Decorate a Small Living Room
Every small living space offers design challenges. While it's important to make all of the rooms in your home functional, the living room is especially key because many people spend a lot of their time at home in the living room. From selecting furniture that is an appropriate scale for the space to maximizing hidden storage solutions to strategically placing a mirror to add depth and light, there are an extensive range of practical and easily attainable design ideas that will help you create the living room of your dreams in your small space.
6 Small Living Room Ideas
1. Select Furniture to Fit the Existing Space
2. Consider Hidden Storage
3. Create a Focal Point
4. Add Light and Depth
5. Don't Be Afraid of Color
6. Take Advantage of Vertical Space
The trunk serves as a coffee table and storage piece while adding a funky vintage touch to the living room.
Amanda Holstein via Advice From a Twenty Something
1. Select Furniture to Fit the Existing Space
Determine Scale and Configuration
When you're working with a compact living room, large-scale furniture often isn't an option. Be realistic about the space. For example, if an oversized recliner won't fit, choose a pair of smaller chairs. Many people also get hung up on common furniture configurations. For example, nothing says that you need a full-sized sofa in your living room. A love seat paired with a bench and an armchair may work more naturally in your space.
Think Multifunctional
Choosing multifunctional pieces will also make the most of your living room. For example, a bench with storage will provide seating while housing pillows and blankets. A coffee table or console table makes a great addition to a living room but only when it makes sense for the space. Your small living room may be better suited for two small tables that open up the space and can be moved as needed to accommodate different functions.
Consider Floating Furniture and Low Seating
Floating furniture and low seating can make all the difference when it comes to keeping the space open and flowing. Design a floating furniture arrangement in the center of the room instead of pushing pieces up against the walls. Install shelves and other built-in components off the floor to create the illusion of space. If you choose low seating, select pieces that don't distract from the focal statement in the room. For example, a pair of low stools in front of the mantel will keep the fireplace as the focus of the living room.
The wall length built-in keeps this narrow living room streamlined and clutter free.
Tory Kingdon via House and Garden UK
Concealed storage is a great way to house items in the living room without creating a cluttered space. Furniture pieces that boast concealed storage, such as an ottoman with built-in storage, are a great option. You may also want to consider decor pieces that do double duty as storage, such as colorful baskets or jars. Do you have a hard time finding concealed storage pieces that don't take up a ton of floor space? Think about biting the bullet and devoting a single wall to built-in storage. To further streamline the storage, keep your items in the built-in hidden behind doors or curtains.
Read More From Dengarden
The living room layout showcases the focal fireplace and mantel.
Kendyl Young, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.com
3. Create a Focal Point
A focal point is ideal for drawing people into a space while making it more uplifting and even sophisticated. Think about focusing your living room around a fireplace, sofa, coffee table, artwork, or mirror. Once you've settled on your focal point, design the rest of the living room around your statement piece to pull the entire look together.
The mirrors reflect the whole space, making it appear larger, while bringing more natural light into the room.
Brunet Souet via Milk Decoration
4. Add Light and Depth
Small living rooms with flat features and dark corners look dreary, even when they boast unique furniture and wall hangings. Maximize the natural light in the room, and don't be afraid to add artificial light sources as well. You'll bring even more light and depth into your compact living room with wallpaper and strategically placed mirrors and plants. Purely decorative mirrors still pack a visual punch and draw extra light into the space.
The floral theme ties the colored items in the room together.
House to Home UK - link no longer active
5. Don't Be Afraid of Color
Many people steer clear of color in small living rooms, believing that it will overwhelm the space. While there is nothing wrong with designing a small living room that features neutral shades, color can make the space appear larger. Select a color scheme with a maximum of three shades to create a unified aesthetic. If you want to use additional colors, incorporate them as accents. Typically lighter shades make a space look larger, but careful use of darker shades takes the style and drama in the room up a notch.
When you paint a small living room, select a satin or semigloss finish to reflect the light. If you want to tie the color scheme in the room together without painting or buying new furniture, consider an area rug. Layer a rug over carpeting to make the room feel cozier or conceal dark flooring with a brightly colored rug to lighten up a dark space.
This set of floating shelves draw the eye up while adding room for knick knacks in otherwise wasted corner space.
Sarah and Joshua Rhodes via A Beautiful Mess
6. Take Advantage of Vertical Space
Build up instead of out to maximize the available space. When you hang curtains, place the curtain rods right below the ceiling. Then choose curtains that extend all the way to the floor to make the ceiling look higher. If you're selecting art or other wall hangings, consider designing a gallery wall or choosing a few large pieces that fill the whole space. Do you have an odd nook that currently serves little or no purpose in the living room? Think about constructing shelves to simultaneously add storage and draw the eye upward.
Small Family Room Design
Finally, creating the ideal flow for your small living room is an ongoing process. It often takes weeks, or even months, of living with a living room arrangement to determine what is and isn't working. Don't be afraid to keep making tweaks and adjusting the layout until you find a arrangement that suits you and your family.
Additional Small Home Resources
Frugal Storage Ideas for Small Homes: Creative, Unique Organization Methods Creating functional storage for a small home is simple when you're equipped with the right organizational tools. Pick up purchasing resources, general organization tips, and much more.
How to Make the Most of a Small Kitchen: Simple, Affordable Kitchen Solutions for Every Budget Organize and brighten up your small kitchen space with practical solutions to create a functional yet inviting space for family and friends.
Very good article you wrote very helpful tips and pictures are so beautiful you added.
Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on April 05, 2016:
Excellent hub!
I enjoyed going through your tips and suggestions to design and lay out a small living room. Using the place below staircase is a very nice idea. Very attractive pictures to complement your interesting and useful hub.
The living room is one of the most important areas in your house for a great hosting experience. It's likely you and your guests will spend countless hours in this room, discussing and entertaining.
Decorating your living room properly will deliver deeply satisfying living for your leisure time. To get there, however, you must pay attention to all of the following areas:
1. the colors that you select
2. material and quality of seats and furniture
3. wall decorations and art
4. lighting and light fixtures
Below we show you some great ideas for decorating your living room.
The Best Colors for Your Living Room
One area that will have a disproportionate impact on the mood of your living room is the color you choose for the walls. While you can install wallpaper to change the look of certain walls, there are areas that wallpaper cannot cover. Getting the wall color right, therefore, gives you the best shot at creating a remarkable effect.
Some of the best color palettes for living rooms include:
1. White - White walls add a touch of class. They are the perfect backdrop for decorating with upscale furniture.
2. Turquoise - This color is great for creating an informal but refined feel. Your kids and family will love the refreshing mood this color creates.
3. Cream - Striking a balance between formal and informal, cream-colored walls create a quiet, soothing effect.
Furniture Choices
With your wall color selection made, you should select furniture that pairs well with the colors you've already chosen. For example, combining white couches with white walls will create resonance in your room design.
Make sure to provide ample seating to avoid crowding. Add multiple sofas, easy chairs and other seats that can accommodate a complete roomful of people, depending on the size of the room.
Furniture like TV stands and tables should generally blend in with the colors of the room and ceiling. There are some natural materials, however, that can work regardless of the colors on the walls. For example, wooden table surfaces look good whether your walls are white, blue or another color.
Lighting Ideas
You can greatly improve the aesthetics of a living room with bright lighting and impressive light fixtures.
To start, you can consider a beautiful chandelier in the center to provide light around the whole room. This central masterpiece ensures adequate lighting throughout the living room while adding an air of elegance.
You can then add to the light sources in the living room with individual lights on tables and around the walls in areas where people will not knock them down.
Carpeting
Consider adding carpeting to your living room to create a comfortable walking area. Carpeting lets you and your guests go barefoot if you choose. The living room almost demands this since you will want to take off your shoes and kick back on occasion. Warm plush carpets provide a good, comfortable surface for this. There are many choices when it comes to carpet size.
If your living room is very large, you can opt for wall-to-wall carpeting. On the other hand, if it's smaller, you can add just an area rug in the place where you will sit. For example, you can have a rug around the sitting and TV area where your kids will play.
The advantage of area rugs over wall to wall carpeting is, mainly, lower costs and ease of replacement. You can completely change the area rug and create a new aesthetic in a fraction of the time it would take to begin installing new wall-to-wall carpeting.
Art Ideas for Your Living Room
Many homeowners like to have some wall art in their living room. If your living room is spacious, it can accommodate a good-sized piece of art mounted alongside one wall. In some instances, you can consider multiple art pieces. Invariably, tasteful art adds to the sophistication of a living room. It adds an interesting item that sparks many conversations from impressed guests.
Selecting art is an opportunity to express your unique personality. If you are fairly conservative, you can select some classical type pieces that portray a quiet life. If you are more adventurous, you can experiment with a post-modern impressionist piece that others might consider risky. It's your space, and so feel free to decorate it to express who you are.
As a place to relax and socialise, the living room is a space we take a lot of pride in, but when it comes to decorating there are common mistakes we all need to avoid.
If you're planning a revamp anytime soon, take note from interior designer and TV presenter Julia Kendell with her top five living room decorating mistakes.
1. Not having a focal point
A fundamental thing to remember is to work out where you want your focal point to be. 'It's as if you're painting a picture, think about the composition in the same way,' says Julia. 'Where do you want the eyes to go to first when you walk into the room?'
2. Overlooking how you want your home to feel
'I'm all about creating the right energy in a space and I think it's something that's overlooked,' Julia explains. 'When you go to somebody's house it really feels right - it's a wonderful place to be and you just want to spend time there. There are some people's houses - and it's got nothing to do with how much money you have - but it can feel sterile, soulless and cold and you can't really put your finger on it. It's about making sure you're creating a nice energy in that space.'
Theo Fagerlund / EyeEmGetty Images
3. Leaving the lighting till last
Lighting should not be the last thing on your list, says Julia. 'Lighting is my key number one rule before you even start redecorating. You need to make sure you have a flexible lighting scheme and want to create a really nice pleasant environment to be in. People do tend to leave it till last or think that it's going to be really expensive to redo, but it's definitely worth an investment to get the lighting right.'
4. Not having a logical layout
The layout has got to make sense and all furniture should fit comfortably in your space. 'People often try to cram in too much furniture, like sofas which are way too big for the space, or they might chuck in a coffee table that immediately bangs your shins every time you walk around the room,' she says. 'That's not creating a good energy, it just feels imbalanced. A good design is all about creating a harmonious balance in your space.'
Martin BarraudGetty Images
5. Not thinking about the overall colour scheme
The colour scheme impacts the mood of the room, so it's important to get it right. Julia adds: 'Ensure you've got a nice balance between tonality in the room so it's not all just a sea of beige; so that you've got dark, light and mid tones that feel harmonious.'
Julia Kendell has teamed up with Homebase for their Small Change, Big Difference campaign providing simple and practical ways to spruce up a room for under £100.
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A small living space can still be stylish. All you need are the perfect products and accessories to liven up your studio or one-bedroom apartment, while maximizing your space. Of course, efficiency and comfort are important as well, and don't worry — we haven't forgotten your tiny kitchen and bathroom. Here are 30 products that will help you live large in your small space.
Get Creative with Storage Space in Your Bedroom
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
If you don't have a lot of closet space, you can always put things under your bed — unless, of course, your frame sits too low to the floor. If that's the case, it's time to place DuraCasa's bed risers under the legs to gain an additional boost of 3 inches of space for boxes, suitcases and anything else you want to keep hidden away. The risers are built to hold up to 2,000 pounds distributed across your bed.
"This is exactly what I was looking for," says one satisfied Amazon customer. Others praise the risers as "sturdy" and "nice and thick and strong." Something worth noting: A few people say the risers don't always stay put on hardwood floors.
Don't Just Throw Everything Under the Bed
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
StorageLAB's shoe organizer can help you keep shoes tucked away in an orderly fashion. With two of these containers, you can pack up to 24 pairs of shoes and adjust the size of the compartments to accommodate larger shoes or shoes with long heels. This handy organizer is also great for scarves, gloves and numerous other things.
"I wanted something that looks good and keeps its shape," says one reviewer. The firm siding on these containers ensures they hold their form, and handles make it easy to pull the unit out from under the bed. The clear zippered top allows you to easily find the shoes you want. "An A++ for design!" raves another happy owner.
When You Don't Have Room for a Nightstand
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Sauder's Orchard Hills bookcase headboard fits a queen-size bed frame snugly or leaves a bit of space on each side for a full. Constructed of "very sturdy" particle board, the headboard attaches directly to the rails of your frame, providing additional stability while taking up minimum floor space.
It arrives unassembled, and although reviewers say it is "easy to put together," many also mentioned that the package is quite heavy and hard to move from the front door to the bedroom. Once the headboard is put together, however, you have plenty of room for an alarm clock, reading lamp, a stash of books (or a reading device) and stuffed animals or room decor.
The Extra Fancy Bed Storage Space Solution
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
If throwing boxes under a regular bed frame feels too basic, take a look at the Dakota platform bed with drawers from DHP. It sits on an elegant frame, with an upholstered headboard and two drawers on each side, allowing you to store just about anything in an orderly, efficient manner.
"We were concerned about the sturdiness," one reviewer admits, "but were quickly relieved once the bed was tested." Others praise the easy-to-follow assembly instructions, and one reviewer is particularly fond of the time it saves on cleaning, noting, "There's no space under the beds for dust bunnies to gather."
A Small but Powerful Vacuum Cleaner
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
The 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner from VonHaus is "not much larger than a broom," but it has more than enough power to keep your entire place clean. You can go over all your floors, just like any other vacuum cleaner, or you can remove the floor vacuum head to turn it into a handheld for cleaning furniture and spills on tables and countertops. When you're finished, just detach the container and throw away the dust and debris.
"I can't believe how good the suction is on this little vacuum," says one buyer. Other owners are delighted with its light weight and small size for easy storage. Several, however, suggest the filters need to be cleaned more frequently than the once-a-month routine VonHaus recommends.
A Classic Modern Storage Solution
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Over the door shoe organizers like the one from MISSLO have become classic features in modern home storage design — so simple and obvious, once you think about it. Of course, many people use them for more than shoes. "I have one in my linen closet that I use for medicines, lotions, extra toothpaste, special hair creams — you name it," one reviewer reports. "I've gained an entire shelf for towels."
The organizer is "easy to hang," with four metal hooks that fit most standard-sized doors. Once in place, "It doesn't slip or slide around," and the 24 large mesh pockets can hold 12 pairs of shoes easily — more if the shoes happen to be sandals!
Keep Your Drawers in Order
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
"No matter how neatly I fold my bras and underwear," one reviewer complains, "they always seem to become a big jumble in the drawer." The solution? Simple Houseware's organizer set comes with four cases designed to hold ties, scarves, underwear, bras or socks in individual compartments, allowing you to easily spot items at a glance.
No more losing a favorite pair of socks in the back of the drawer, where it could stay buried indefinitely. "My only complaint," one reviewer says, "is that I would like to be able to get another 24-compartment organizer without having to buy the whole set."
Create Shelf Space in Your Closet
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
The hanging closet organizer from Simple Houseware is "easy to set up and super lightweight, but extremely durable," according to a satisfied buyer. When hung on the clothing rod in your closet, the fabric drops down to reveal five shelves, with an extra three pockets on each side.
You can put a lot of weight on the shelves, including jeans, sweaters, bath towels, bed sheets and pillow covers. (The lower compartments can even hold heavy boots.) This organizer is "the hardiest I've seen," says one reviewer, adding, "It does not strain at all."
Store All Your Jewelry in One Place
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Are you constantly hunting through several different boxes on top of your dresser to find the necklace or pair of earrings you need to match an outfit? Maybe you need AOOU's jewelry cabinet and dressing mirror combo. The full-length mirror on the front opens to reveal enough storage space (including hooks) for just about any jewelry collection, with additional shelves for makeup and perfume.
"It is made well, very sturdy and hangs very neatly on my closet door," one reviewer says. (It can be wall-mounted as well.) Magnets keep the door securely shut, and a set of blue LED lights along the top light up when the door opens, making it easy to find what you need.
Take All the Hassle Out of Laundry Day
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When floor space is at a premium, a full-sized hamper can be a bulky eye-sore. Smart Design's pop-up hamper can sit unobtrusively next to your dresser or tucked away in the closet. The mesh siding allows damp and sweaty clothes to dry faster, reducing the risk of funky odors.
"These hold waaay more than I thought they would!" exclaims one reviewer — enough to do two loads of laundry in a single trip, in fact. Plus, when laundry day does come around, the sturdy handles make it easy to carry, and there are side pockets for detergent and fabric softener.
It's a Lamp! It's a Display Case!
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
The Etagere floor lamp with shelves from Simple Designs Home is the sort of thing you never think about until somebody points it out — then you can't get over what a great idea it is. It's a floor lamp that stands just over 5 feet high and features sleek, sophisticated lines, but it also sports three shelves perfectly spaced for holding a telephone, small planter, cherished figurines and more. In the bedroom, it could easily double as a nightstand and a reading light.
"It took me all of 15 minutes to assemble by myself," one reviewer reports, adding that you need to have a Phillips screwdriver on hand. "You can't go wrong with this one," another reviewer adds. "It really does bring the room together." Some owners, however, note that the electrical cord can dangle awkwardly down the length of the lamp stand.
You Can't Go Wrong with a Good Rug
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Home Dynamix offers a variety of rugs that feature soft, Persian-inspired decorative motifs in neutral colors. The Royal Clover contemporary rug is one example that blends nicely with nearly any decor. Whether you're looking for an area rug to pull the living room together, a runner for the hall or a small round rug for the bedroom, the company offers the size you need.
Many reviewers are delighted with how easily these rugs can be cleaned, with many stains coming out using only a damp cloth and some spray. "They vacuum really well," a reviewer adds, even in a household with multiple pets.
It's Okay to Drink on the Sofa Now
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
If you're watching TV and you want to enjoy a drink but don't have a coffee table, what do you do? Maybe it's time to consider the CoachCoaster, a gadget that fits easily over the arm of your sofa or armchair to provide a secure base for everything from beer cans to coffee mugs.
The sleeve is weighted on both sides for stability, and the drink holder keeps containers firmly in place — even if you accidentally brush it with your arm. (Although one reviewer did mention that it's still vulnerable to jumping cats.)
No More TV Dinner Trays
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Maybe you'd like to have something to eat while you're watching the big game. You could put your plate on the coffee table and bend over to eat, or you could hold your plate and risk spilling food on the couch. Sauder's lift-top coffee table offers a better solution. The table top is actually a lid that raises several inches and slides forward, allowing you to eat — or work — comfortably on the couch with the top in front of you. Underneath, the table has plenty of storage space that is perfect for stashing items you don't want out in the open.
Reviewers describe this coffee table as "very sturdy and heavy." They also recommend you have somebody on hand to help you put it together.
The Comfortable Way to Sit Up in Bed
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Do you spend a lot of time hanging out in your bedroom — reading, watching a movie on your tablet or checking on social media? You could jam a bunch of pillows against your headboard or wall to support your back — or you could get the ComfortSpa reading pillow. A comfortable 18 inches high, the foam pillow provides excellent back support.
"This helps me feel like I'm more laying on the couch than in bed," says one happy reviewer. "It's very comfortable, no matter how you lay on it!" The armrests even have pockets so you don't have to leave your glasses or smartphone on the bed, where they could be crushed if you roll over.
The Comfortable Way to Work on Your Lap
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
They call it a laptop computer, but have you ever tried actually holding one in your lap? They sit uncomfortably, and you have to keep your head bent to read the screen, potentially causing back and neck pain. The adjustable laptop desk from Mind Reader takes care of several problems. It's cushioned along the bottom, so it rests comfortably and smoothly on your legs. The smooth plastic surface can be adjusted to eight different angles, accommodating whatever position you choose, from sitting up to lying on the couch.
Although it's designed to work with laptops and tablets — and comes with a clip to keep them from sliding off when the desk is angled — it also makes an excellent writing desk. "No more hunching over for long periods!" one buyer says. Many note the plastic material is thin but say it's more than sturdy enough to hold various electronic devices, even a thick hardcover book.
Start Your Wine Collection in Style
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Maybe you want to be a wine connoisseur — but you can't find anywhere in your cramped kitchen to store more than one bottle. Take a look at the Sorbus wall-mounted wine rack. Many customers describe the rack as "easy to install," although they also recommend that you use longer mounting screws than the screws that come with the product, especially if you're hanging it on drywall.
Once it's on the wall, people love the "clean, functional, simple design" of the metal rack, which holds up to nine normal-sized wine bottles securely. If you're not a wine drinker, you can also use it for cooking oils or set it up in the bathroom as a towel rack.
Plan Everything Out on Your Fridge
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
"We have almost always had a white board on our refrigerator for grocery lists and messages," says one consumer. Another says the magnetic whiteboard from cinch! is "the absolute best one we have ever had." It comes in two sizes (17 inches by 11inches and 20 inches by 13 inches) and includes markers — also magnetized to stick to your fridge — in four different colors.
The dry erase board cleans easily, even if you leave something written on it for a month, and the thin design, with "clean and smooth" edging, means it blends seamlessly on a white refrigerator, an effect another buyer describes as "almost disconcerting!"
Declutter Your Pots and Pans
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Are you fed up with taking every pan you own out of the cabinet to get to the one pan you need? Maybe it's time to get rid of your frustration with the Simple Houseware pan rack organizer. Place the rack on its side to hold four pans in a row, or stack five pans horizontally without worrying about scratching them.
"You could not even see the bottom of my cabinet before," one reviewer says, but the unit still leaves rooms for pots in many cases. The racks are strong enough to hold heavy cast iron pans, although deep frying pans will only fit on top. It can also be screwed into the cabinet wall or the bottom for additional stability.
Give Your Pantry a Simple, Streamlined Look
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
One of the biggest problems with keeping your kitchen organized is everything comes in different size boxes and bags, forcing you to create improvised pyramids on your pantry shelves. DRAGONN's 10-piece airtight food storage containers set offers an elegant alternative, with containers in a variety of sizes to handle everything from spices to spaghetti.
Shoppers praise the containers as "high quality and very durable" and note they also look great on the kitchen counter and are easily hand washable. The airtight seals keep everything fresh and dry and are an excellent deterrent against ants and other insects that could invade your kitchen.
Have You Ever Looked Under Your Sink?
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
When it comes to kitchen storage, the cabinet under the sink is the space most people don't like to think about. It's easy to just throw all the bottles of different cleaners in there and slam the door, but the adjustable shelf organizer from STORAGE MANIAC offers a better solution. You can return order to the chaos and make it easy to find what you need when you need it.
Reviewers say this two-shelf unit is "very well made," noting that the length is adjustable to fit the size of your cabinet. The shelf's surface consists of steel panels, which can also be moved to make space for the sink's pipes. "Under my kitchen sink looks wonderful now!" one owner declares. It's also perfect for under your bathroom vanity.
Use Your Kitchen Wall to Establish Mise en Place
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Great chefs run their kitchens with an impeccable sense of mise en place — the principle that positions everything exactly where you need it before you start so you can prepare any dish smoothly and efficiently. An empty kitchen wall provides a big opportunity to pull essentials together in one easily accessible spot — with the help of Wall Control's pegboard organizer.
It's the same kind of metal pegboard you might use to hang tools on the wall over a workbench, which ensures the board is sturdy enough to hold even your heaviest pans. "If you want something that will last a lifetime," says one reviewer, "then I highly recommend Wall Control boards." You can choose from a range of colors.
A Colorful Foundation for Food Prep
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
A well-stocked kitchen needs an assortment of mixing bowls and measuring tools.
Joseph Joseph's nine-piece set features all the basics, including four measuring cups and a tablespoon. The set is made of colorful plastic that will brighten up any kitchen, and the bowls don't lose their sheen, even after multiple trips through the dishwasher.
The mixing bowls are extremely sturdy, with no-slip bottoms. "On family movie night," one reviewer reports, "three bags of microwave popcorn fit in the large mixing bowl." The small mixing bowl can hold a dozen eggs at once, with no problem.
Get All Your Spices in Order
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
The hard part of becoming a more adventurous home cook isn't finding unique ingredients — it's keeping track of them once you pack them away in your pantry. YouCopia's Chef's Edition SpiceStack has drawers that slide out from their frame and tilt forward so you can view the contents at a glance. There's enough room for up to 30 regular-sized spice bottles.
Reviewers call the SpiceStack "a total dream," praising the "sturdy plastic drawers" for their "amazing spice storage." It even comes with blank and preprinted labels for the front of the drawers if you want to take immediate stock of your inventory.
You've Got to Hide Your Knives Away
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
When you've got a small kitchen counter, a chunky knife block can take up a lot of valuable space. Wusthof's under-the-cabinet knife block is the perfect solution, giving you easy access to eight knives (and a honing steel), then swiveling out of the way when you're done.
The beechwood block screws into the underside of a kitchen cabinet with just three screws, and many reviewers describe it as "very solid" and "excellently detailed with a smooth finish." They also note that the knives are held in their slots magnetically, but "they will fly out if you're not careful." Then again, you would always be careful with knives, right?
No More Fumbling for the Conditioner
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
"This shower caddy is epic!" raves one user who bought Simple Houseware's hanging shower head organizer. It has a deep basket for shampoo, conditioner and other bottles, with a shelf beneath that can hold razors, sponges and bars of soap, plus hangers for a loofah or a back brush.
When you don't have a window ledge next to your shower or space in the corners of your tub to hold stuff, just hang this caddy over your shower head to keep everything in reach. Other customers praise it as "super sturdy" and "very stable... exactly what my husband and I needed."
Making Bath Time Lots of Fun
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
If you don't feel comfortable hanging a caddy on your shower head, you can always try the mesh shower curtain organizer from Yihoon. It hangs securely on your shower rod or towel rack and has mesh pockets big enough to hold everything you need, from washcloths to shampoo bottles.
"We have a small shower, and I hate the look of bottles all over the place," says one reviewer. This organizer offers an ideal solution. The mesh pockets dry quickly, and you can always throw it in the washer if it gets a little funky.
Keep Your Cool — and Your Quiet
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
In a small room, every inch of floor space counts. Bulky fans take up too much room — and usually make too much noise. Lasko's oscillating tower fan stands discreetly in a small space and boasts a woodgrain finish that blends in with most decors.
More importantly, as one reviewer observes, "It's quieter than any tower fan I've ever owned," even at its highest speeds. A remote control allows you to change settings without getting up, and a nighttime mode allows you to slowly taper from high to low while you drift off to sleep.
So Many Cables. So. Many. Cables.
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
The TV, the cable box, the DVD player, the video game console, the high-speed modem, the base for the wireless phone — you've got tons of devices to plug in and very few outlets. Belkin's 12-outlet power strip and surge protector can help you keep everything up and running.
The power strip has six outlets running down the middle and another three on each side, especially designed to hold those oversized power adaptors that always cause you to lose the adjoining outlet on normal power strips. The internal circuitry can even gauge how much power each device is using and spread the voltage accordingly. "If I need more power bars in the future," says one satisfied reviewer, "these are what I will buy."
Get All Those Cords Out of Sight
Photo Courtesy: Amazon
Even if you have a power strip big enough to handle all your electronic devices, you still have to deal with all those cords and cables, which can create an unsightly mess along your floor and walls. A few cable concealers from SimpleCord can take care of that problem. The plastic units are designed to blend with most wall colors, leaving a streamlined path from devices to an outlet.
Reviewers praise these concealers as "easy to install" and "very sturdy." Once you have your wires laid down in the raceway containers, slide the plastic cover on, and you're all set. Add-on units allow you to turn corners easily, and you can even lock them into place along your baseboards with adhesive strips or mounting screws.
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