Monthly Archives: June 2009

22 June, 2009
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Spacious Living DIY

Determining the best ways to use the space that you have is not as hard as it sounds. If you are tired of clutter and disarray, use these tips to get your home in order. Things will be easy to find, everything will have a place, and cluttered closets will be a thing of the past.

Lots of people like to buy extras of certain things so that they have them when they need them. While it is a good idea to be prepared, don’t fail to plan where you are going to put all of these extras. If you don’t have space for it, chances are it’ll end up in a heap or crammed in a closet. Inevitably, you won’t be able to find it when you need it and you will end up spending more money to buy another. This is a common problem in many homes.

A lack of storage space does not have to mean a lack of storage. Orderly cabinets, desks and closets take a little work, but you are capable of doing it yourself. First you have to get rid of whatever you do not use, even if it is new. Some people have office supplies ready to go for years and years without touching them. If you really think that you won’t use them, give them away to friends and family, or donate them to a local school, day care or non-profit organization.

Use big boxes to separate items into trash, give-aways, yard sale items and items to keep. Once you have cleared the space, make stacks or piles of things you are keeping to determine what categories you have to organize. For a desk, you may have office supplies, bills, letters, things to do, computer cords, battery chargers, CD’s and DVD’s, upcoming events, photos, books, software, printer paper and ink. That’s a lot of stuff to not have organized! Labeled containers that match or shelves dedicated to certain items can help you quickly find what you need and avoid the dreaded piles that are so common on people’s desks.

Take your boxes to the next area to be organized, the closet. Again, pull out everything. Quickly decide what can be thrown away, given away or sold. Fill your boxes until your closet is empty. Place your items that will stay on the bed. This will give you a big area to work with. Go through the items you are keeping and categorize. Large storage containers or moveable garment racks are a must for storing out of season clothing.

With what’s left, you can create the most space by hanging it according to length. You may choose to separate by use; work clothes, casual clothes, etc. Whichever you do, you will need to replace mix-matched hangers with space saving hangers. Cascading hooks or piggy backing attachments can turn ordinary hangers into specialty hangers, creating up to fifty percent more space. The best space saving hangers are called slim line hangers. Their thin design is accompanied by superior strength and a velvety surface that won’t let clothes slip off on to the floor. Getting your home in order will help you maximize space and get your life organized.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for slimlinehangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

15 June, 2009
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Space Saving Hangers and Other Closet Tricks

Everyone could use a little organization help when it comes to their closets. Closets are usually the best place in the house for storing things that you want to keep out of sight. This often neglected space can quickly become a dumping ground for things that you seldom use or may not ever use again. It is time to go through that junk and figure out how you are going to make your closet work with you instead of against you.

1) Clear out what you are never going to use or wear again. You may have more in your closet than you realize. Scuffed shoes, out of style jeans, even old camera chargers or birthday cards. Get rid of whatever you can bear to part with. Ask yourself what really is important here. If you have a lot of sentimental clothing, take pictures of it, or cut it up and use the scraps to make a memory pillow or blanket. Have a garage sale or give clothes to charity. You will feel like a giant weight has been lifted when you thin out the amount of stuff that you keep in your closet.

2) Clean the closet. This area of the house can go years without being dusted or vacuumed. It can be the sneaky source of mold, mildew and allergens. Clean your closet really well before putting anything back inside. Baseboards, carpet, hanging rails and shelves should be dusted and thoroughly cleaned. This will also ensure that you do not leave anything in the closet that should come out.

3) Replace old hangers with matching slimline hangers. These space saving hangers will make a huge difference in your closet. Use cascading hooks to create double the space on your hanging bar. You can quickly identify outfits when you are in a hurry. You can save space while preventing wrinkled clothing. These space saving hangers have an ultra-thin design, but they are very sturdy. They have a velvety finish that keeps clothing from slipping off on to the floor. Hang up only what you wear now, in this season.

4) Store out of season items. Not only should your opposite season wardrobe be stored, but you should also store clothes that you hope to fit back into someday. Some people have as many as four wardrobes stuffed into one closet! That is four wardrobes for each season, plus they may have a spouse with the same problem. There is no way that a conventional closet can hold all of that stuff. Some people get rid of smaller clothing, vowing that if they lose the weight, that they will deserve new, more modern clothes. Or, create a container that stores each size of clothing that you own. Store it in a spare bedroom, basement or garage until you need it.

Getting the junk out and organizing what you actually wear can make a huge difference in your closet. Using space saving hangers can make your closet a dream to look into and use.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for slimlinehangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

14 June, 2009
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Getting that Closet Organized

Being organized takes patience and some skill. But the first step is committing yourself to a project. So, to start, how about organizing your closet?

Whether you hire a professional to do the work for you of organizing your closet or you take it on yourself, start with a clear, well-conceived plan. Why plan? Once you start taking on a big project such as organization, it is easy to get distracted and sidetracked. By having a plan you can stick to what you are aiming for and in the end not end up with a mound of stuff piled on the floor with absolutely no idea how to organize it in any better manner than the way it was. This kind of impulsive behavior leads to frustration and discontent.

With a carefully crafted plan, you can also look forward to a smooth and swift process. The finished project will be comfortable to live with, and you won’t encounter any difficulties or unpleasant surprises during or after the project’s completion. Remember this simple equation: The more time spent planning, the less time or money spent later in physical labor or correcting mistakes.
With closets, you may find that yours isn’t big enough or is out of date. If this is the case, you may look into getting an estimate for a new closet or hiring a closet designer who can take what space you have and restructure it.

All right, now to get started on organizing your closet. Believe it or not there are some specifics to stick with or tips in getting things organized. Some are common sense but here they are:

Keep It Simple. Conserving space is important, but not if it makes the system harder to operate than a system using a little more space. Keep it simple; a system that isn’t being used isn’t a system at all, no matter how much space is conserved.

Tall or short people might consider shelves to accommodate their height, for more comfortable access.

Someone whose wardrobe leans heavily to folded sweaters has different requirements from someone whose closet is crammed with hanging suits.

A person with an extensive collection of shoes or hats might need more shelves and bins than hanging space.

If a bedroom is small and crowded, some bedroom furniture can be eliminated if, for example, a dresser is built into the closet.

Compromise. Few things in life, including organizing a closet, can be attained without some amount of compromise. You may have to forfeit advantages in one area to achieve advantages in another. Many parts are contingent on other parts, just like the pieces of a puzzle.

Hanging Your Clothes – Now for the other part of organizing your closet – how to hang things properly. Clothing has a particular way it should be hung, be sure to read the requirements. For hanging blazers, leather jackets etc, you should look out for heavy wooden or slim line hangers, that can give your ensemble that extra support to carry off their weight. Pants demand a proper folding style, which is placing both the legs parallel one on the top of the other. While hanging them ensure that there is enough space between different trousers in the cupboard.

Uniformity. The finished project will look more attractive if the products, hardware, materials, and appointments go together well. Personal preference influences whether the look will be utilitarian or decorative, but standardization and unity are impressive ingredients.

Organizing your closets can appear to be a daunting task. But with the right determination and well-crafted plan, you can work your way toward a well-organized closet!

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for slimlinehangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.