Category Archives: Uncategorized

23 June, 2010
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How to Survive a Small Closet

Living with a small closet isn’t always easy, but there are some things that you can do to make it better. Use these tips to create the closet that works best for you, your budget, and your style.

1) If money is an issue, consider selling some of your extra clothing, purses and shoes. Recycling gently used items saves space and helps out someone in need. You can have a garage sale, visit a consignment shop, or donate items to charity for the tax deduction. Another option is to try auction sites or local sales sites to make a few dollars. You don’t have to spend hours listing each item. Simply list “bag of women’s clothing size 12” or whatever you think will get some attention on the site that you choose. Include pictures in your listing and you’re sure to bring in a few bucks for your stash.

2) There may seem like there isn’t much room to incorporate your personal style into your closet, but that’s not necessarily true. You can coordinate colors with containers, canvas hanging shelves, your laundry basket, shoe rack, hat rack, and clothes hangers. You can personalize these items with a little bit of paint. You may like turquoise paint with white dots, black and white stripes, or just about anything that makes the closet space unique and inviting.

3) Use the closet door for hanging things like hats, ties and belts. You can mount baskets for smaller items like socks, mittens and containers for jewelry. If you’re in a small dorm or efficiency apartment, you may also want to use the inside of the door for school books, phone chargers, camera equipment, movies, or video game storage. You can find a lot of space on the door that you didn’t know you had. Consider a pantry door organizer with adjustable shelves and baskets to make the best use of this space.

4) You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a small closet organized. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to maximize the space on your hanging bar. These hangers fit flat together and save more space than you would think. They’re not flimsy like wire hangers and the velvet surface keeps clothes from slipping. You can get removable clips for hanging skirts, pants and shorts. Use cascading hooks to coordinate outfits and double the space. These hangers also come in a wide variety of colors and prints to accentuate the style and personality of your closet.

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.

9 June, 2010
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Space Saving Furniture

If you live in a small apartment, dorm room, or have a small room that is too cluttered, then you may be interested in purchasing some space saving furniture. There has been much advancement in the furniture industry that accommodates today’s lifestyles and living arrangements. You don’t necessarily have to settle for a tiny couch and chair to save room in a small space. Use these tips to help you decide which types of furniture can help you to create space and storage in a small area.

1) Furniture, like couches, that wrap around corners can take up less space than separate chairs and couches. The “L-shaped” couch is a really popular way to save space without reducing seating. These types of couches can also help you divide efficiency rooms into separate areas. For example, if your living room, dining room, and kitchen are actually one big space, then an L-shaped couch can divide the areas so that they don’t seem to run into each other.

2) Furniture that has storage is very useful in saving space. When you live in a small area, you don’t necessarily have the storage space that you need. Couches and chairs now come with arms that open up to provide storage for magazines, remote controls, cup holders, and more. A hide-away bed built into the couch is also a great way to accommodate guests when you don’t have a guest room. Some ottomans open up to reveal storage areas for bulkier items, such as throw pillows and blankets. You can get couches and chairs that have hidden drawers underneath for storing everything from toys, to shoes, to valuables. Many coffee tables now have a top that opens up to double as a laptop desk or eating area.

3) Use the space underneath your furniture to hide useful items such as folding end tables or extra folding chairs. If your couch or chair has a skirt or slip cover, you may be able to put it on risers and make even more space underneath without anyone ever noticing that you adjusted it.

4) Choose furniture that can perform double duties. You may find that a table whose top folds down makes for a great entryway table. It can also be pulled out and opened up when you have dinner guests over. Stackable stools can be used as shelving, extra seats, end tables, and more. The more items that you can find like this, the more versatile your space will be.

5) You can give yourself extra storage by adjusting your clothes closet as well. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, can double or triple the space in your closet. You can install shelving in the extra space to hide away more things that need to be stored in your small living 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.

27 May, 2010
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Simple Clutter Solutions

Living in a small apartment or home with little storage can turn cozy into cramped pretty fast. Without a plan, your clothes and storage items can simply take over your home. It’s hard to relax and enjoy your space when you feel like you don’t have any! With constant clutter looming all around, you will just stay stressed and always feel like you’re out of control. Use these simple and reliable home organization methods to get your space in order. There’s no need to feel like you’re being squeezed out of your own home ever again!

1) Hanging shelves are great for closets and other areas where you might be able to make some storage happen. It’s usually not that you don’t have space available; it’s that you haven’t thought of how to most effectively use the space that you do have. Vertical space is often ignored and shelves are often too shallow to store everything that you need to.

2) Find spaces that you didn’t know you had. Sometimes a unique or creative arrangement of shelves inside of your cabinets can give you more space than you imagined. Look around the house and determine the spaces that are not being used efficiently. If shelves are too far apart, there will be empty space above your bins, books, boxes, or whatever you have there. Try adding shelves or hanging an undershelf basket from the higher shelves. These are great for storing smaller items, computer paper, baseball caps, socks, magazines, or toys.

3) Look up! You can install shelves above doorways and around the ceiling. This is a modern way of creating storage or display space without cluttering up the room with big shelves. A shelf above a door that displays your favorite things or stores your cookbooks is not only an easy clutter solution, but it can give your home a unique feel.

4) Corner that clutter. Have you ever considered adding corner shelves to the bottom corners of the room, the front corners of the closet, or up the kitchen corner? You can create spaces for canned foods, pictures, books, knick knacks, and more. A lot of times we use our shelf space for displaying things like art or mementos. If we can get these things away from our larger storage areas and onto smaller shelves, we can make a lot of space with very little effort.

5) Utilize products that make space happen. There are many closet accessories that can be used all over the home. Make storage space in your closet by using velvet hangers, which are thin, space saving hangers. You can piggy-back them, use clips, and cascade clothing from them tripling closet space in minutes. Using tricks like this can help you to discover just how much hidden space there really is 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.

18 May, 2010
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How to Create Storage

Just about everyone could use some extra storage space. If you feel like your home is overflowing with things that have nowhere to go, then use these tips to create places for things to be kept.

1) Remember that out of sight is not necessarily out of mind. Too often we get in a hurry and end up creating miscellaneous boxes of things that need to be stored. Almost everybody has a drawer, a box, or a shelf just full of things that don’t necessarily go together, but they had to go somewhere. Boxes, drawers and shelves like this are space stealers. We think that we’ll remember what is inside, but we just can’t keep up with it all. You’ll most likely end up never finding what you need or having to purchase a replacement because you simply can’t keep it all straight in your head. Don’t create an area of miscellaneous junk. That is rule number one.

2) Go through all of your clutter piles and get things going in the right direction. Do you have old planners, notebooks, souvenirs, and notes that you haven’t used in a while? Go ahead and get rid of them! Donate usable items and get that junk out of your house. If you haven’t used it in a year, you’re not going to. It can be liberating to free yourself of the space stealers in your home. You just might have more storage space than you thought.

3) Now you need to get creative with where you will store the things that you want to keep. Some seemingly useful storage items can actually waste more space than they save. You might think that you need an armoire or a wardrobe closet to store your sheets, blankets and winter sweaters. However, you can store the same items in roll-out drawers that slide underneath your bed. Use bed risers if you need even more space. You can even use comforter or drapery hangers and store these things on a garment rack or in a closet.

4) You can use furniture with built-in storage. Some ottomans open up to reveal storage for magazines and newspapers. Some couches and chairs have arms that open up to reveal storage for remotes and throw blankets. Some coffee tables open up and are deep enough to store throw pillows or toys.

5) Create storage in your closet without getting rid of a thing. By using space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, you can double or even triple the space in your closet. Doing this can make enough room for a set of shelves, a laundry bin, or even a small dresser in your closet. Being creative and utilizing products that offer extra storage will have your house looking great 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.

5 May, 2010
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Make your Closet Clutter-Proof!

Do you dream of a closet that is clutter free, perfectly organized, and even has personality? You may be surprised what you can accomplish with space saving hangers. These slim hangers are coated in velvet for grip and come in a lot of different styles and colors, even patterns, to suit your taste and needs.

The different types and accessories will have you ready for whatever your closet can throw at you. Don’t let a season change or buying new clothes turn your closet into a cramped and cluttered avalanche waiting to happen. Clothes that are crammed together get wrinkled and damaged. Flimsy hangers can break, tearing and snagging your clothing.

Space saving hangers keep your clothes from getting wrinkled, stretched, or ending up on the floor. The velvet coating keeps your clothing from slipping while the slim, yet sturdy, design takes up two to three times less space than a traditional hanger. Here we will discuss the different types of velvet hangers that are available so that you can choose the ones that will help you to get your closet organized with space to spare.

You can start with some standard pant hangers and shirt hangers. Pant hangers have a bar at the bottom for hanging pants. Shirt hangers have curved shoulders to keep from stretching and misshaping delicate or tailored fabrics. These are good basics to have because you can add accessories to them when you need to.

Accessories generally include clips for hanging skirts or shorts, and hooks for coordinating outfits. Doubling up items with hooks that hang around the neck of the hanger uses less space on the bar and helps you to keep clothing that goes together mated, saving space and time. You can also get rounded expanders that latch onto the shoulders of the hanger. These are great for shirts or suits that need a little extra support around the shoulders.

Cascading hangers are also really useful when you’re trying to keep your closet organized. They can be used to hang several pants or skirts at once. By combining like items into small spaces, you can save lots of space. The key is to choose closet accessories that help save you space without creasing or bunching up your clothing.

These new velvet hangers are a lot gentler and sturdier than the old wire hangers that we used to use to save space. Plus, these don’t get tangled or snag our clothing. The velvet comes in a wide array of colors and prints that will help you to not only keep organized, but will also add style and personality to your closet.

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.

23 April, 2010
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Organizing a Tiny Bathroom

Getting the bathroom organized can be a real challenge if you have limited space. If you’re tired of having to dig for what you need or having everything piled on the counter around the sink, use these tips to get it organized. Making room for all of the little things that must be kept in the bathroom is possible if you try!

1) Clear everything off of the counters and pull everything out of any cabinets that you might have. You may be surprised at what you find buried in the back of the junk. Throw away any expired make-up, medicines, or things that you just don’t use anymore. Consolidate things that you can, like half empty body washes and shampoos, into one container. Clean out dust and spills while you have the cabinets empty.

2) Evaluate the space. Do you have a deep cabinet that just holds what you need, but it’s so low and far back that it’s impossible to simply reach in and get what you want? No one wants to get down on the floor and dig through a disorganized mound of bottles and containers to find one little thing. Consider taking better advantage of your cabinet space by installing sliding drawers. You can get wire ones that are designed to go into cabinets at home improvement stores. You may even want to put a straight board on casters on one side of the cabinet. You can install hooks on it to hang things like cleaning products, your hair dryer, curling irons, and more.

3) Use the drawers for all of your little things, like make-up and medicines. You can lay an organizer tray in the drawer for things that you need to access all the time. Use containers that close, like a recipe card box, for things that you don’t use very often. Label the box with what’s inside. Put things like nail polish, nail clippers, polish remover, and cuticle cutters into one container and label it. When you need it, you can pull the whole container out and then put it back when you’re done. Keep your medications together in the same manner. You may need one for hair accessories, face creams, tools like eyeliner sharpeners and eyelash curlers, or stock items like razor blades and new toothbrushes.

4) You will need on drawer or shelf for things that are needed for maintaining your bathroom. Toilet paper and cleaning supplies can go in this section. You can put towels and wash cloths under the cabinet, or you may want to use some shelves outside of the cabinet, near the shower, for this purpose.

5) You can install a hanging bar, like one you would see at a restaurant concierge, to hang your robe or clothing on. Hang your work clothes in the bathroom as you’re showering to release any wrinkles that they may have and keep them looking fresh. You can use a very small bar stocked with space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to use the least amount of space possible in your bathroom.

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 April, 2010
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How to Manage Small Living Spaces

Living in a small space can save you money and put you closer to the places that you need to go, but sometimes it can get to feeling a little cramped. We generally collect belongings throughout the year. Whether you received gifts, got new furniture, updated your wardrobe, or bought new towels, you’re slowly using up the space that you have. Finding clever ways to make the best use of your space can help you feel relaxed and at home, rather than feeling like you’ll have to move to make room for all of your stuff.

1) Chances are, you own more than you need. When we buy new clothes, for example, we don’t usually think to throw out or give away the old ones. The same goes for shoes, cameras, socks, make-up, you name it. We don’t like to throw out or give away usable items. There are a couple of ways to tackle this problem. Set limits for yourself on what you can own. Have a basket or bin for things that you think you won’t use anymore. If you can’t bear to give it away immediately, keep it in this holding area to see if you really miss it or not. Only allow yourself to buy new things if you get rid of something old.

2) Make an assessment of your space. You can, for example, make a sock bin and hang it on the wall of your closet. Make an educated guess about how many socks you need to own and how much space you are able to spare for them. When the basket gets a little full, start going through the bottom and decide which socks you didn’t wear much over the last year. Get rid of them if they’re not your favorites.

3) One benefit of setting limits for yourself like this, is that you end up buying higher quality products that you’ll really love and be able to use for a long time. Being picky is a good thing. You may be thinking that this sounds like an expensive option, but it really isn’t if you think about how often you have to get rid of cheap clothes and shoes that tear up or shrink in the wash. You’ll end up spending less over the long term if you are careful about what you let occupy the little space that you have.

4) Use organizers, racks and bins to keep the space limited. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to make the most space in your closet while protecting those delicate or expensive garments. You’ll love your newly organized little space and enjoy not having the clutter that you used to.

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 April, 2010
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Space Savers

Saving space in your home can be challenging. Most of us have trouble managing clutter and finding room for everything that we own and need to store. Use these tips to get yourself started on an organized home. If you follow a few simple steps, you will be organized before you know it.

The best way to be successful is to set aside time to organize. Depending on your project, it may not be a good idea to tackle it all in one day. Getting your whole home organized can be an ongoing process, so try to be patient. Your diligence will pay off. As you discover what works for you in one area, you should be inspired to carry on the techniques that have paid off to different areas of your home.

Start with the areas that are really bugging you. These are generally junk piles that just seem to accumulate no matter what you do. You get it clean and through the course of one day, it’s junky again. This is usually due to the fact that your family is in the habit of tossing things into the areas that are already junky.

Identify the problem areas and see what types of items are always ending up there. Whether it’s newspapers, mail, homework, lunchboxes, hats, shoes, keys, cell phones, or just trash, you should create a space to manage it. If backpacks are always landing in one spot, then install some hooks and label them with each person’s name. If shoes are a problem, get a large bin or shoe rack and put it where everyone takes off their shoes.

You can put organizers for mail, keys, wallets, purses, and cell phones either in your entryway or kitchen, wherever they tend to pile up. It’s easiest for everyone to stay organized if you provide the organizational tools and install them in the area that the family already uses. People are really creatures of habit and our routines are soothing. Changing the area too much just about ensures that no one will use it after the first few days. The junk will be piling up again and the organizers will be empty.

Once you get your key areas straight, think about your closets. Closets are great for storing items and keeping them out of sight. However, you need to use your closets for your clothing, too. So, you need to find a way to save space so that you can do both. One trick is to move your top shelf up closer to the ceiling. This moves your storage items up and leaves you more space to organize your clothes. You can use things like space saving hangers, such as velvet hangers, to make the most of your hanging space.

When you get your home organized in a way that works, it is more likely that it will stay that way.

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.

29 March, 2010
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Unique Closet Storage

Closets can easily get cramped and cluttered. Sometimes we have to be creative to come up with storage solutions that work with the space that we have. If you live in an apartment or home with few closets, then you may end up needing to store more things in your closet besides clothes and shoes. Finding space for these things can be a challenge. Use these ideas to help you come up with ways to store odds and ends in your closet while saving space.

You may be surprised at what types of storage containers are on the market today. The closet accessories that used to only be available to professionals are now available at reasonable prices to the public. Before you go and buy a lot of stuff, examine what you have. You will need to determine what really needs to stay in your closet. Get rid of as much as you can. Then take measurements. You don’t want to get home with a lot of containers that just won’t fit in your closet space.

See if you need to install additional shelving in your closet. Even coated wire shelving has some attractive accessories, now. You can get beautiful baskets that slide like drawers or wooden inserts that make a wire closet system look great, without investing in a solid wood closet system.

You can dress up a closet system by using wood hangers or other high-end hangers that make your closet look nice. You can save space by using specialty hangers. Save shelf space by using comforter or quilt hangers. Get shorts off of your shelves by using pant or skirt hangers to hang them. Pretty much any hanger with clamps or clips will hold shorts.

There are other hangers that will hold things and keep you from having to invest money and space in storing them. Scarves, ties, belts and purses can all be hung. Skirts, pajamas, swim wear, and even lingerie can be hung. Just be sure that you choose the hanger that is meant to hold each of these items so that they don’t end up stretched, torn or on the floor.

If your goal is to save space, consider space saving hangers, like velvet hangers. These are thin, flat and fit close together. However, their ingenious design keeps them strong. The velvet coating keeps clothes from slipping.

Velvet hangers also come with cascading hooks. Simply slip the accessory over the hook of the hanger. Then you can hang more things from that hanger on the hook. Pair up tops and bottoms to make getting ready a snap. Plus you’ll be saving space and making room to store more of your odds and ends.

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.

25 March, 2010
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How to Live Simply

Choosing a lifestyle of simplicity is often a very personal, life changing decision. People choose to live more simplistically for a lot of different reasons. Some may do it simply to save money, while others do it to feel a deeper connection with life. You may choose to simplify your life to reduce stress, to reduce the environmental impact that you have on the earth, or simply because it is hard to manage the space that you have to live in. No matter your reasons, you can use these guidelines and affirmations to help you manage a simpler life.

1) Living simply gives us more time to enjoy life. Just imagine how much less time you could spend cleaning, organizing, shopping, and worrying if your life was streamlined into a wistful, predictable bliss. Of course, things will come up. But, having a commitment to making your life more livable and less stressful will give you the outlook that you need to make it through the rough patches.

2) Start by reducing your possessions. Ask yourself if you really need it or if it really makes you happy. Why did you buy the item in the first place? Did it make you happy when you bought it? Does it still retain its value to you? Getting rid of things that clutter your home will help you to free your mind. It is a very powerful feeling to have control over the number of possessions that you have. Many people are so happy with the control that they feel that they don’t miss the things that they got rid of, at all.

3) Go through your home and find piles of junk. Everybody has some clutter that could be reduced. Focus on one section of your home at a time and try to keep only what you really use. If you have a lot of dishes, keep only your favorite ones. If you only have one frying pan, you’ll have to clean it every time you use it. No more dishes piling up in the sink. If you don’t have back-ups for putting things off, then they’ll have to be done in small doses. No more weekend days that consist of only cleaning. You can’t procrastinate doing the laundry or housework if it has to be done for the next meal or day of work to happen. You’ll be so happy never having clutter pile up that you’ll revel in your small daily routines of making it work.

4) You will need to optimize your storage space to get some things in order. Take your closet for example. If you’re serious, you may want to get rid of bedroom furniture. Many folks love only having a bed in their bedroom. It’s a great way to enjoy space. You will still need somewhere to keep the possessions that you need. Get a good closet system that has spaces for little things, like ties, socks, jewelry, and gloves. Use space saving hangers to make your clothing that you keep fit into a smaller space. Velvet hangers are great for this, because they’re slim, strong, and can save you more space than you may have imagined. Once you get your closets done and your home clutter-free, you can relax in the space that you have created.

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.