Monthly Archives: January 2010

21 January, 2010
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Space Saving Tips and Ideas

Do you live in a small apartment or home that just doesn’t have enough space? The good news is that every home, no matter how small, has potential storage space that we just don’t use or notice. With these space saving tips, you can discover the storage space that you didn’t know you had.

1) Reuse containers that your food comes in if you are able to wash it. Butter tubs can be used for craft supplies, two liter soda bottles can be used for dispensing yarn, oatmeal canisters can be used for toys. The possibilities are endless and you can make space by organizing all of those little things that can make an area turn into a heap of junk.

2) Make space under the bed and furniture. Risers are readily available and are so useful when it comes to making space. Risers are plastic stands that go under the legs and feet of your beds, couches, end tables and more. You can raise up an end table, cover it with a table cloth or sheet, and have instant living room storage underneath. By raising up your couch, you can store things under it. You can store toys, large shallow containers filled with winter coats, art supplies, or even your broom. You can do the same thing with your beds, making instant space for storing out of season clothes, books, files, shoes, or anything else.

3) Installing small shelves in the kitchen can double your pantry space. Start by cutting and staining boards that are 6” wide. Install them about 8” apart on a side wall of your kitchen. These are perfect for storing all of your canned goods, freeing up cabinet space. You can install doors on the front, a sheer curtain, or just leave it open to give your kitchen that charming country feel.

4) Use bags that you can suck the air out of with your vacuum for storing bulky clothes and linens. These space saving bags can save up to 80% of the little space that you have available. You can stack thick comforters, sweaters, sheets and more in a fraction of the space that they took up in the linen closet. Another benefit of this is that they come out smelling as nice as when you put them in!

5) Get rid of whatever junk you can. We tend to hoard things that we think we can use later. Donate extra office supplies to your local school or church. Clothing can be donated to help clear out space in your closet. Once you get it cleared out, you can still save more closet space by using space saving hangers, like velvet hangers to maximize the space that you have left.

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

15 January, 2010
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How to Create Efficient Closet Space

If you’re like most people, the closet is the biggest challenge when it comes to staying organized. The closet can be so frustrating, especially if you are limited on space. Use these expert tips for getting your closet organized, developing efficient ways to save space, and getting your closet to where you can keep it organized.

1) Get rid of the excess! This can actually be the hardest step. Our clothes remind us of people, events, or times in our lives. It’s hard to let go of the memories and part with the pieces of our wardrobe that harbor them. But, there is a solution. If you’re having trouble getting rid of clothing because of sentimental value, take photos. You can create an album that you keep in your closet. You can even cut a piece of material, save a ribbon, or decorate the page with the buttons from the article of clothing. This album will take up a fraction of the space and the memory of the clothing will be preserved.

2) Your goal should be to plan a space for everything. Belts should be on a belt rack or belt hanger. Ties should be rolled neatly in a shallow drawer, hung on the wall or on a tie hanger. Even scarves and stockings can be hung on a scarf hanger, which is a wooden hanger with smoothly bored holes that won’t snag delicate fabrics.

3) Separate items into different containers. Don’t put all of your small items in one drawer unless you have a drawer organizer. This just junks up the little space that you have. Everything gets mixed up, buried underneath each other, and becomes unusable. Utilize buckets, bins, baskets, dividers, whatever you need to make a place for each thing. Buckets are great for socks, underwear, pajamas, and more. Most people can find a foot of space to build or install a cubby system to hold all of these buckets and baskets, keeping their closet organized.

4) Utilize door space by purchasing an over-the-door organizer that helps you tackle problem articles. For most people, it’s shoes. But for you, it may be hats that are the problem, hair accessories, or other small items that take up space in the closet.

5) Make use of space saving hangers. Many specialty hangers will allow you to hang multiple items on one hanger. Sometimes these are called cascading hangers, or you can buy cascading hooks to add to your space saving hangers. Retailers use this trick all the time and it is equally as effective in your home. You can double the space in your closet instantly. Other space saving hangers are velvet hangers with a flat design. They grip clothes, fit very closely together, are super thin, but are very strong and attractive. Long gone are the days when we have to use wire hangers to save space.

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

6 January, 2010
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Minimalistic Living Ideas

Whether you are a minimalist by choice or forced to reduce your possessions because of limited space, you may benefit from these ideas for making space in your home by reducing clutter, optimizing the space that you have, and creating versatility in your storage areas. Keeping things simple can be a rewarding venture, both physically and spiritually.

Many people who rid themselves of excess possessions find that their life is less cluttered, less complicated, more predictable, and more comforting. Minimalists report that it is much easier to organize and the simple life has many rewards.

Simplifying your life can even have financial rewards. As your priorities shift from buying things that you like to only buying things that you need, you’ll notice yourself getting pickier about what you buy. You will not want to clutter up your limited or organized space, so you will only buy things that fit, are of a high enough quality to last, and that you know you’ll love. Buying only quality products may seem more expensive, but the money you save on frivolous spending and replacing junk will more than cover the few investments that you make.

Once you’ve decided to go minimal, it is time to get rid of the excess. Trim the fat, so to speak. Go through different areas of your house and concentrate on one area at a time. Ask yourself as you go how much you use certain items. Is it enough to warrant keeping it forever? Is it worthy of your limited storage space? Can you donate it to charity, friends or family? There are usually problem areas in the home that are actually unnecessary. Declutter your counter spaces, shelves, kitchen drawers, bedside table, and cabinets.

When you’re done, assess how much space you actually have. You may want to set goals for yourself. For example, you may decide to implement the two week rule with your wardrobe. Force yourself to choose your favorite two week wardrobe for each season and toss the rest. Choose two weeks of casual clothes, two weeks of work clothes, and two weeks of dress clothes. Keep fourteen pairs of socks and underwear, a brown belt and a black belt, and so on. If you add new clothing to your wardrobe, you have to get rid of something older that you don’t wear as much.

This may seem like a small amount of clothes, but you may be surprised how much space those two week wardrobes can take up. You can minimalize the space that your clothes take up by using space saving hangers, like slim velvet hangers. These specialty hangers allow you to hang a lot of clothing in a small space, without sacrificing quality like you would with wire or plastic hangers. By saving space with your space saving hangers, you can make room for more storage in your closet. You may decide to get rid of bulky dressers and keep all of your clothes in a closet system that effectively manages the space that you have.

Save space, save time, save money, and reduce stress by minimalizing your home this year.

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