Monthly Archives: February 2010

27 February, 2010
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Making Use of Small Spaces

Life is so busy, that many people are turning to the simplicity of living with minimal stuff. Junk and clutter adds to the discouraging level of stress in our lives, so why not get rid of it? Many people have even traded in their giant homes for small, sensible living spaces. Whether you’ve decided to reduce your belongings and space, or you simply can’t afford to live anywhere except a small apartment, these tips will help you to enjoy the space that you have.

First, get rid of things that don’t enhance the space. Many things that we own turn out not to be as useful as we planned or take up to much space to be worth the “convenience” they were supposed to offer. Limiting your belongings so that you only own practical things will lighten the load in your apartment and your life.

Of course, you don’t want to just throw away everything and live with one plate and one cup. You should also surround yourself with things that inspire you. If you explore and search for items that are useful and also beautiful, you can really make your apartment or small home a personal retreat. Now, you’re probably saying to yourself that that is easier said than done, and you’re right.

Making your life more simplistic is a lifelong endeavor for some. It takes making a mental adjustment on the way that you see the world. It can be hard to resist things that you think you need. But, you’ve probably lived without it up until now. Before you buy something, ask yourself if there is any other way to get the use that the item offers without actually buying the item.

For example, you see a wine rack that would be beautiful in your kitchen, but deep down you know that it would take up some valuable counter space. But, society has conditioned you to constantly be a good consumer and fill your home with things. You’re fighting back, but you still want that wine rack. You go home and suddenly you’re not content with the wine sitting up beside the refrigerator any more. The product has accomplished its goal. It made you feel like you couldn’t live without it.

You really need to rebel against advertisements and figure out a way to be creative instead of spending a lot of money. If you really want to get the wine bottles off of the countertop, find another way. For example, you can easily install a wood shelf with slat dividers that hang down from your upper cabinets. Voila! Wine rack that didn’t cost but a couple of bucks and you’ve made more space on your counter than you had before.

Use your creativity to make space in other ways around your house. Get rid of things that aren’t necessary and consolidate items around your house. Do you really need to keep every book that you’ve ever read? Do you need all of those sheets that don’t fit the bed that you’re using now? Does your closet have clothes in it that you haven’t worn in forever? You can make space not only by getting rid of things, but by using sneaky ways of forcing it to happen. For example, those slim velvet hangers are the latest in space saving hangers, tripling space in your closet without getting rid of anything. If you really try, you can make a lot of use out of small spaces, without spending a lot of money.

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 February, 2010
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How to Work with a Small Closet

Small closets can translate into big headaches. They get cram-packed with all sorts of things that don’t necessarily go in the closet. They can make you feel as if they wouldn’t hold what you needed them to, even if you got rid of as much stuff as possible. This is why you need to utilize some small closet organization tips. Make the most of the space that you have by using specialty hangers, space saving hangers, and velvet hangers. This can make your closet hold up to three times more clothing in an orderly way.

1) Just go ahead and empty everything out of the closet. There may be more junk in there than you realize. Separate everything into piles as it comes out. You will definitely need to begin by making some tough decisions about what you want to keep. If it’s questionable, go ahead and put it into a box. Store it in the garage, basement or attic for a while. If you don’t miss what’s in it after a year, donate it to charity. Sometimes a trial run of living without something will help you realize that you don’t need it. In the meantime, you can enjoy the increase in closet space.

2) Make special places for everything. If you have old year books, photos, computer equipment, luggage, and other items in your closet, then you need to either make a place for it, or get it out of there. Sometimes a trunk at the foot of the bed, an armoire, or a wardrobe can house these items and help you clear out space for your clothes in the closet.

3) Donate what you can to charity and then prepare for future donations. This will help you to keep your closet organized over time. You may decide to hang a bag on one side of your closet labeled “charity” so that you can toss things in it throughout the year. If you wear something and then decide that it just didn’t fit right, throw it in. If you swap out your winter wardrobe for your summer wardrobe, donate what you never wore that season. Keeping it in sight will keep organization on your mind all year long.

4) Once you’ve really thinned out the heard, you may still find that your closet is crowded with the things that you want to keep. Utilize specialty hangers to make up to three times more space on your hanging bar. Cascading hangers, skirt hangers, pants hangers, and other specialty hangers can allow you to hang up to six garments on one hanger. Cascading hangers can help you to get your outfits ready to wear by pairing up tops and bottoms. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, for everything else. These non-slip hangers are great space savers, but are sturdy enough and attractive enough to provide you with years of closet bliss.

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.

8 February, 2010
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How to Organize Your Small Closet

Getting organized is a little work. The first step is making a commitment to get organized. The closet is a great place to begin. Your goals may include saving space, creating storage, or getting rid of excess clothing.

You can organize things yourself or hire a professional. Either way, it will be up to you to make the final decisions. Jot down notes, draw designs, and ask for other people’s opinions. Having a clear and concise plan will help you stay motivated to finish the task. Look online for ideas on how to handle your problem items.

Starting with bulky items is a good idea. First consider getting them out of your closet all together. Suitcases, camping equipment, blankets and other bulky things can usually be kept in a basement, garage, under the bed, or in a spare bedroom. Making room for the things that you use daily is a good plan.

Next, get rid of things that you don’t use. Remember to include shoes, dresses that are out of date, suits that are too tight, or clothes that fit, but you simply don’t prefer them. Most people hold on to items for years after they wear them for the last time. If there’s something that you don’t want to get rid of that you haven’t worn in a while, go ahead and wear it. See if you can remember why you don’t wear it and then decide whether or not to keep it.

Make spaces for hats, shoes, sweaters, suits, dresses and t-shirts. Your closet needs are personal and will differ from other people. A “one-size-fits-all” closet doesn’t always work out. Utilize adjustable shelving, bins, baskets, hooks and buckets to get the space organized.

Part of making the closet look nice is matching up the hardware. Hooks, drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, hangers and rods can all be updated to match. If you match your hangers, you’ll be surprised how much more uniform your closet looks. Choose hangers that are sturdy, save space, and do not damage your clothing. You may want coat hangers for suits and coats. They will help your heavier items keep their shape.

Choose hangers that don’t cross over each other on the bar. Old wire hangers are notorious for this and can make your closet look messy. Try the new space saving hangers
that are on the market. These velvet hangers grip clothing. They are slim enough to save as much space as wire hangers in your closet. However, they are much stronger. You can also buy specialty space saving hangers like pants hangers, skirt hangers, and dress hangers. You can get accessories like cascading hooks and finger clips to make even more efficient use of the space in your closet.

Organizing your closets can be some work, but the effort will be well rewarded with the time that you save and the organization that you are able to maintain.

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.

1 February, 2010
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More Space Saving Tricks for Your Home

Small homes and apartments can be so hard to keep clean because of the limited space that you have to stay organized. It can become a necessity instead of a luxury to have an organized home if you live in a small space. Living in small spaces makes it so that you have to get creative and use your imagination. You can also use these tips to get you started on your way to finding all of that storage space that may be right in front of you!

1) Furniture can be your best friend in a small home. If you can, invest in furniture that has built in storage. It could be that the arm rest opens up to reveal storage for magazines, remotes, and hidden cup holders. Or, you can find coffee tables that open up to reveal storage inside. You can even use a trunk instead of a coffee table to keep books, photo albums, and throw blankets. Ottomans and end tables can also open up to reveal storage.

2) Install shelves all over the place. Installing a shelf over each doorway of your home gives you a convenient place to display photos or memorabilia. But, you can also use that space for storing books. You can store smaller things inside of interesting containers that compliment your décor. You can also use that space for baskets or bins that hide everyday items, like camera chargers, video games, or office supplies.

3) Shelves can also easily be installed in other neglected areas. Up each side of your fireplace, underneath windows, and in unused corners of the room can all be utilized as storage space. Shelves are a great way to add storage space for very little money. You may only need the board and brackets to make the shelf look nice. Paint them black if you want them to blend in with darker surroundings or pop out as a contemporary accent.

4) Make the space look bigger than it is by using sheers instead of curtains, adding light sources around the room, and leaving the space simple. Busy fabrics and decorations can make a space seemed more closed in. However, using them as accents will actually make a space look larger if they are in contrast to lighter colors surrounding them.

5) Utilize your closets to their full potential. Most closets have a design that wastes the space that they have to offer. Use that area up high on all sides of the closet. Use those neglected front corners for shelves and cubbies. Figure out how to most effectively use shelves and bars for making the space work for you. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to maximize space on the bar when you’re done.

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.