It doesn’t matter if you have a large house or a small apartment, you probably feel like you will never have enough space. We tend to fill the space around us, sometimes simply in an attempt to make the space seem homey. But, at some point, your “filling of the area” starts to look like junk and clutter. The walls can feel like they’re closing in if you don’t find smart ways to keep things stored away.

Using the vertical space in your home is one way to keep things in order. You may be able to install a corner cabinet or some extra shelving around the house to get things spread out a little better. Have you ever looked at perfectly decorated homes in magazines and thought, “Well, there just must not be any people living there.”? The truth is that people that live in these immaculate homes do own books, software, office supplies, school supplies, laundry, photos, and more, just like you. So where are they hiding it?

That’s actually the answer, right there! They’re hiding it in secret storage bins that are disguised as little trinkets or decorations around their home. Did you notice the decorative trunk by the front door? It may be full of shoes or newspapers waiting to be taken out with the recycling. Decorative boxes are great for storing items that you use around your home. They can be used as book ends, placed on end tables, sit on the mantle, or just be sitting in the window sill. You could have all kinds of craft supplies, pens, tape, magazines, throw blankets, and more sitting all over the living room and no one would ever know it.

Another way to keep clutter away from your living areas is to utilize storage space in your closets. I know what you’re thinking. Most people have a closet that is already full to the hilt with their clothes, shoes, luggage, and linens. However, using this same technique of hiding and thinking “vertical space”, you can double or triple the space in your closet in no time. Just putting in a few shelves that reach high in the closet can give you room to store all of those little extra things that do not have a good place to go.

You can use flat hangers that fit closely together on the bar to make a little more room than you had before. There are space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, that keep your clothes flat and wrinkle free while creating space that you didn’t know you had before. You can cascade hangers and utilize hangers that hold multiple skirts or several pairs of pants to make even more room. Get a little creative and you’ll have that magazine home in no time!

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.

Do you have miscellaneous junk cluttering up your home? It’s a common problem for most people. There are many items that come into your home that don’t necessarily have a special place to go. Here we’ve compiled a list of common household problem areas and items that can cause clutter in the home. Use these ideas for storage of these items to make your home a clutter-free zone in no time. Knowing which items should throw up red flags in your mind is half the battle. Having a place ready to put them before they can become a problem is essential in controlling clutter and keeping an organized home.

1) Rule number one of keeping a clutter-free home is to always practice “in with the new, out with the old”. If you buy something new, then you must get rid of something old. We are a society that purchases a lot of things. If we’re constantly bringing in a cup, a shirt, a gadget, a trophy, or even bulk food items, then we are constantly reducing our storage space. Getting rid of something old every time you bring in something new, ensures that you are not in a constant state of storage space emergency.

2) Getting rid of things that we no longer use is also essential. Periodically go through your drawers and closets to see what your family has outgrown or simply quit using. Donate these items to charity, take them to a consignment shop, have a yard sale, or put them up for auction online. Do something to keep your belongings in check.

3) Coats and shoes are common clutter items. These items are generally expensive and we are reluctant to get rid of them when the time comes. Scuffs, gouges, scrapes, dirt and more can make a pair of shoes unattractive to us. Even though we don’t wear them anymore, we try to hold onto them because they are still “good”. Coats are the same way. You may have several coats that are appropriate for different occasions and different weather. Try to get these items narrowed down so that you don’t have so many bulky items cramming your closets full.

Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to get you clothes in the closet under control in a small amount of space. Using the hanger piggy-back method can double your available space, leaving yourself room to make special places for the problem items in your home.

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.