1 October, 2009

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Steps to Decluttering the Living Room

Homes can get cluttered so easily. We have the things that we use every day, the things that we use occasionally, and the things that we keep as decoration or mementos. All of these things together can get disorganized making your home look cluttered and unkempt. Use these steps to help find a place for everything in your home.

1) Use the wall space that you have available. Blank wall space can be used to help you get things under control. You can use shelving, TV brackets, mount speakers and more to free up some space.

2) Add shelves up high for things that you don’t need to use all the time. Higher shelves are easy and inexpensive to hang. Display pictures, collections, decorations and other seldom used items up higher where you don’t need to reach them very often.

3) Add shelving down lower for items that are used often. Simple triangle corner shelves take up such little space, but make great places to put books, remote controls, children’s toys, mail baskets and more. You can display your magazines, movies, music or just have a place to put the kids’ art supplies.

4) Utilize an organizer for the foyer or front entryway. You need somewhere to stash your mail, trash, newspaper, cell phones, and keys as soon as you walk in the door. If this is where it goes, this is where it will stay. Don’t let it all make its way to your kitchen counter! Use a small table, preferably with a couple of drawers and cabinets underneath. Mail can go in one drawer, while keys and wallets go in the other. Use a charging caddy for all of your electronic needs. Phones, cameras, MP3s and more can neatly charge by the front door where you can grab them and go. Place a small waste basket or shredder underneath in the cabinet. Here you can stack magazines, store newspaper for recycling, whatever you need.

5) Make a place for the larger items that come into and leave your house every day. For example, coats, shoes, backpacks, brief cases, purses, umbrellas, you name it. No wonder our foyers, living rooms and kitchen counters take the brunt of it! All of the stuff that your family brings in at the end of the day needs to have a convenient place to go. If it’s not easy to use, you won’t use it. So, invest a little in some closet shelving for your coat closet and get it organized. Big hooks for backpacks, small shelves for purses and brief cases, racks for shoes, and containers for extras, like keys or change. Use space saving hangers, or slim line hangers, to create even more space in your coat closet.

Once everything has a place, it will most likely stay in its place. If it doesn’t, cleaning it up won’t be such a daunting task.

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.

19 September, 2009

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Crammed Closet Tips

Your closet can easily get over-run with clothes, shoes, storage items, hidden holiday gifts and more. If your closet has become the bane of your existence, then you have come to the right place. We have assembles these clever tips and tricks to help you learn to love your closet. Create usable space with only some small adjustments.

If you have a big closet or an extremely packed closet, then you may need to schedule quite a few hours or even a day to spend focusing on the problem. Most closets have one thing in common: inadequate storage space.

You probably do have enough storage space, but the arrangement is all wrong. Just like homes, the square footage can be low, but the layout can make all the difference. Think efficiency. You want the things that you use most to be front and center. Accessibility is important when you’re creating usable space.

Make the most of square footage. This is where you should sit down with a pen and paper and start drawing up designs. You don’t have to get fancy, but figure out where your belongings will go before you start.

This can be a lot easier if you categorize your clothing. Hanging shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses in their own sections of the closet can help you quickly get ready in the mornings. Plus, by hanging short items all together, you free up some space below. A lot of times, simply rearranging the order of clothing is all that it takes to start organizing.

There is no hard-fast rule here. If it is easier for you to keep your work clothes in one section, work-out clothes in another, and your casual wear all separated, then by all means, do it that way. Some people like the uniformity of arranging by color.

It may be a good idea to get some other minds involved in your design. Friends or family members may have some creative ideas if you’re running short. You may need to invest a little money to implement your design, but you don’t have to spend a fortune.

Find spaces in your closet that aren’t being used and install shelves, cubbies or extra rails. You’re not stuck with the standard bar and shelf that most closets have. If you started with a completely empty space, what would you do with it? Is there a way to make that happen? Do you need special spaces for certain things like photos, electronics or hobby supplies? Design the closet that fits your belongings.

Save extra space by using space saving hangers, called slimlinehangers. They grip clothing with their velvety finish. They’re super thin, yet really durable. They make your clothing hang in a tiny amount of space. Install hooks for tote bags, purses and robes. Install drawers or use bins for ties, belts and socks. When everything has a place to go, it won’t be crammed in any longer.

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.

10 September, 2009

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Transitioning to a Small Space

Living your life in a small space can be either a nightmare or a rewarding experience. It all depends on how you look at it, your attitude, and your organization skills. Here you can learn how to appreciate the minimalist lifestyle, organize your space, and enjoy living the small life.

Many people choose to live in a small space, such as a small apartment, because of cost or proximity to their jobs. If it isn’t your choice to live in a tiny environment, then you may find yourself being forced to change your habits. But, if you prepare, embrace the positives and get ready for a few sacrifices, you can really learn to love a tiny space. Just because it’s small does not mean that it cannot feel like home.

Some people choose to live in a small space, even a camper trailer, to escape the consumerism that has consumed us. Lots of families get caught up in buying things because they’re hip, more attractive, on sale, you name it. We waste so much money on things that are not necessarily needed, but wanted. We do this so much, that it has actually become a detrimental addiction for many people. Forcing yourself to switch gears from acquiring possessions to deleting them from your existence can be more of a struggle than you might anticipate.

Make a list of benefits for yourself. Concentrating on and embracing the positives will help you to transition into living in a small space. Get excited about how you are breaking free from what society and advertising has led you to believe that you need. Think about how only 100 years ago we only owned dishes, farm equipment, maybe a desk and maybe a mirror to pass down to our sons and daughters. In only one or two generations, we have gone from having what we need to having whatever we want. What do we have to show for it? A lot of bankruptcy and debt. Break free and live simply.

Okay, so you’ve decided to take the plunge and live life minimally. That doesn’t mean that you have to throw away everything that you own. Pay attention to what you really need and use on a daily basis. Keep things that make your home yours, like artwork, mementos, and photographs. Figure out what you just can’t live without and then see how much room is left. Narrowing down your belongings is liberating! You can give so much to charity or needy friends and neighbors. You can sell things that may be worth money and save even more.

Think about how to fill the small spaces that you have and how you can utilize wasted space, such as space near the ceiling. Use specialty hangers and space saving hangers in your closets to double the space available for clothes. Use companies like YesterTec for small space furniture. They even have an armoire that opens up to be a full sized kitchen. There are a lot of surprising “luxuries” on the market that can keep your small space from feeling small. Be creative and have fun coming up with clever ways to use your spaces!

30 August, 2009

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Studio Living

Some people choose to downsize, destress and declutter their lives by moving into a small home, condo or studio apartment. While it may not be your choice to live in a tiny studio apartment, you can embrace the motivation behind the movement and get your small space organized.

The first step is probably the hardest. You have to let go of some of your belongings. When you are in a small space, you need to envision what it would look like if it only had what you needed. Imagine what our ancestors had. They didn’t spoil themselves with lavish items, gigantic beds and homes that would force them to have to work for their entire lives to pay for them. They had what they needed and they probably didn’t stress about organization like we do.

Embrace the simple living attitude. This doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of everything. In fact, most people dealing with small spaces keep two categories of items. One, the things that they need to survive, relax and cook. Two, the things that define their personality; such as art, photos and things with special meaning.

Install shelves for displaying things that are meaningful to you. If they don’t necessarily go with your décor, consider displaying them in your bedroom or near your loft bed. Your art and other décor that go together can be displayed in the living areas that will be seen by guests.

Many people have way too many pots, pans and storage containers. For a tiny kitchen area, think nesting. You will need one good set of nesting bowls for mixing and serving. You will need a large skillet and a small skillet, a large pot and a small pot. You can even learn to use cast iron skillets if you want them to double as casserole dishes for your oven. Measuring cups, measuring spoons, a spatula and a good knife are about all that you really need in the drawer with your silverware.

Inevitably, you will need storage. Think about this when you purchase your furniture. An oak chest or toy box makes for a great coffee table or end table and also offers a lot of storage. You can keep a lot of shoes in one at the foot of your bed. You can put one near the door for people to sit and remove wet shoes, hang coats on hooks and get their belongings organized.

If closet space is limited, you’ll just have to get creative. Once you’ve gotten rid of extra clothes, pair up bottoms and tops that go together. You can use nice velvet hangers with clips to put pants with the shirt that they go with. This makes dressing easier, but it also frees up about half of the space in your closet. Be creative and you can make your studio space work for you!

19 August, 2009

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Small Closet Spaces

Living with a small closet can become torturous if you don’t get it under control. Organization is a must. There are lots of ways to maximize the little space that you have and make the most of it. There is no room for clutter in a tiny closet and sometimes there isn’t even enough room for your clothes. Using tips like these can help you make the most of the space. When everything has a place to go, clutter stays under control and your closet will once again be your friend.

The best thing to do if you have a small closet is to set up a wardrobe rotation. There is probably no room for a winter and summer wardrobe. So, you’ve got to get a plan. Figure out where you have space around the house. If you have room under your bed, you can invest a small amount in large, shallow containers that slide right under. Some are even designed to work like a drawer so that you can quickly get what you need if you happen to need to get in there. If your bed is not high enough, use risers to lift it. Your dust ruffle or duvet will cover the space and you can make a lot of room for your off-season clothing.

Don’t make the mistake of buying a whole lot of storage bins and expect to organize the closet. If everything is stored, then it becomes hard to get to. In a small closet, you have got to have everything efficiently organized. This means you can’t just buy any closet organizer. You really need to specifically plan for the things that you own. If you have a hundred pairs of shoes, then shoes will be your focus. If you have too many clothes hanging, then shelving will be your main concern. Many shirts do not wrinkle bad and can be neatly folded into a stack and placed on a shelf. It’s easy to see what you have and the space that they take up can be minimal.

Utilize the vertical space. You can install a small shelf above the closet door on the inside. Here you can keep valuables and things that you don’t want children to get into. You can put corner shelves all the way up the front two corners of the closet. You can use a hanging shoe rack on the door, or any other over-the-door organizer for keeping track of everything from ties and belts to gloves and scarves.

Take a look at the space that is wasted near the ceiling. Most people have a good 40-50 square feet just empty up there. Your suitcases are only so tall. Consider moving that shelf up higher and store things like blankets and duffel bags inside of your suitcases. You may be able to add another shelf just below it above your bar and create even more room.

Finish out the closet with space saving hangers, like slimlinehangers, to make the hanging clothes that you have take up as little space as possible.

11 August, 2009

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Making a Reach-In Closet Usable

A reach-in closet is one that is shallow, with a wide front opening. Most come equipped with a long hanging bar that is about eight feet long. If you’re lucky, there will be a shelf above that. Unless you come up with a plan, then this style of closet will always hold only hanging clothes and not much else.

One big convenience of the reach-in closet is the wide open doorway. This gives you access to a lot of square footage that would have ended up hidden in a standard or walk in closet. You can utilize the space underneath your clothes by installing drawers, bins, shelves and shoe racks.

Your goal should be to determine how much square footage you can free up. It doesn’t really matter if it is a big walk-in or a regular closet, because square footage is square footage. See what happens if you hang all of your shortest garments on one end. Does it create more space below? What if you moved the top shelf and bar up? Does that help to use some of that ceiling space that normally goes to waste? What if you move the bar back closet to the back wall? Do you now have more room in the front corners? Be creative and think outside of the box when you are trying to make space.

Another tip is to think about more than what will look nice. If you’re thinking in numbers, then you are more likely to think of a way to make more room. For example, if you do all of the things listed above, move the top shelf up and move the bar up and back, then did you just make room for a second hanging bar below? What about on one side? If you started out with an eight foot bar, then couldn’t you divide it into two four foot bars and condense them to one side of the closet? If so, then you still have the same number of feet of hanging space, but you just emptied literally half of your closet for additional storage.

On the empty side, you can slide in a dresser, add a closet system or simply add shelves. You may be able to extend your top shelf out to the front wall on each side of the door. Then you may have room to build or assemble book shelves down each side of the closet near the front. You can use this space for storing just about anything that will fit.

The main lesson here is to throw your normal closet thinking out the window and really use your creativity to come up with a useful plan. If you still feel like clothes are crowded, use space saving hangers like slimlinehangers to create even more space. When you are done, you could have the custom closet that you’ve always wanted without having to buy a new house!

26 July, 2009

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Affordable Closet Upgrades

Your wardrobe cannot easily be replaces, so upgrading a few things in your closet to help take care of it is not such a bad idea. It may surprise you to know that just a few touches can really update your closet, make it more efficient and help you to stay organized.

You need to make usable space for your things. This may involve adding shelves, racks, cubbies or additional bars. You can protect your wardrobe from damage if it is not crammed in between shoes, junk and other clothes. One way to make space where there is not much space to be had is to use space saving hangers.

You can use them to keep your coats, shirts, skirts and pants from getting crammed together. Plus, the new streamlined look will make your closet instantly look better. Select the right curvature or style for the kinds of clothing that you own. Space saving hangers with hooks are great for skirts and shirts with large neck openings. Ones with notches can hold items with straps for shoulders.

The flat design of slimlinehangers keeps clothes close together. However, they actually help them to hold their shape at the shoulder and back. They keep your closet in tip top shape, providing much needed space and organization. You can even piggy-back articles of clothing with cascading hooks to create even more space and have your clothes ready to grab at a moment’s notice.

You can further protect your wardrobe with a few more inexpensive accessories. Shoulder covers are especially useful for dark colored coats, dresses and suits. A build-up of dust can make you have to bring them to the cleaners before you can wear them again. Shoulder covers and garment bags protect the clothing that you do not wear often from dust.

If you have extra room to spare, you can add drawers, additional shelves, a laundry nook, or a specialty organization rack. Customize it to your personal needs. You may need simple hooks for handbags, robes and belts. Or you may want a special shelf up high for a lock box or jewelry. If you have a lot of board games to store, you may want a tall, slim series of shelves. A lot of people are moving towards using baskets or bins to hide away and organize small items while making their closet beautiful.

Be creative with the space that you have and you can utilize space that you didn’t know you had before. For example, how many inches are wasted behind your hanging clothes? If you move your hanging bar back towards the wall, you can free up space in the front of the closet for shelves, cubbies and hooks to go from floor to ceiling.

Once you get your closet organized with slimlinehangers, or space saving hangers, manipulate the space that you have and add accessories that fit your wardrobe and your budget, it will be much easier to keep things in order from then on out.

13 July, 2009

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Small Closet Tips

A small closet can really cramp your style. Digging through piles of junk, finding your clothes wrinkled or piled on the floor and having no room to store anything can be a real nightmare. Having a small closet is not the end of the world, but it may require some creating planning on your part. Use these tips to turn your nightmare space into your little piece of heaven.

First things first, clear out the closet. You need to get rid of as much stuff as possible before you start. Shoes that are scuffed, too tight or out of date must go. If they just do not match anything or haven’t been worn in over a year, chances are you will never use them. The same goes for clothes. If there is a stain, it’s too short, too tight, or out of date, it has got to go. Again, if you have not worn it in a year, you probably never will.

If you cannot bear to give everything to charity, consider giving it to friends or having a swap party with friends. You can inspire all of your friends to clear out the clutter in their lives as well. Have a party where everyone brings over their gently used items to share. Purses, hats, belts and shoes are most popular. Whatever is left after the swap goes to a local charity. It’s a fun way to do a good deed and see what treasures your friends have been hiding.

Okay, back to the closet. If you do not have a lot of time or money, you will need to organize on the fly. Get some inexpensive bins for things like socks, swimwear, linens and storage items. Keeping things separated will not only keep things where you can find them, but also out of sight for an organized look. Baskets, canvas crates and other containers can go on a shelf, the floor or anywhere that you find room.

If you still have small stuff to organize, like hats, belts, ties or purses, consider an organizer that hangs from the door or bar. If those seem too flimsy for your taste, you might want to build or invest in some cubby shelves to hold the containers for you. Or, install some drawers or extra shelves specifically for these items.

Now you are ready to hang your clothes. If you still feel like you have more clothing than space, you will need to invest a little in specialty hangers. Use slimlinehangers to make some extra space. Cascade these hangers with additional hooks that let you hang multiple items on space saving hangers. With the use of slimlinehangers, you can quickly double or triple your hanging space and get that closet under control.

2 July, 2009

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Get Your Home Organized for Back to School

Get ready parents, it’s time for back to school in just a few weeks. This time of year can motivate you to get everything organized and ready for the hustle and bustle of the school year. Your schedule runs so much smoother when your house is in order, so use these tips to get everything ready to grab and run on those hectic school mornings.

You probably do this every year. You start out the school year organized and committed to keeping everything in order. But by the summer, you’ve become the pack rat that you dreaded seeing ever again. School work can pile up, end of the year projects come home, the winter clothes come off and it’s off to the pool all summer long. Well, it’s time to get moving again. Don’t buy a single back to school item until you have made a space for everything that will be coming in.

Each child will need a backpack, pencils, crayons, glue, lunchbox, paper and more. Most of these things will end up staying at the school, so really you need to get ready for what will come home. You especially need to be ready for the things that come home that must go back, or things that come home that you want to keep. You may decide to dedicate an area of your entryway or your coat closet to these items.

If you have a coat closet, you may be able to hang coats on one side and install shelves and hooks on the other side. Each child will need a backpack hook. You can also label containers or large folders for each child’s work that you want to keep. When you look through their folders, you can quickly file the keepsakes and trash the rest. Keep a small trash bin at the bottom of the closet for this task. It will keep you from piling up the work on your kitchen counter or coffee table.

Next, you will need to have homework supplies handy. Use a metal bill tray mounted to the wall to keep loose leaf paper, construction paper and composition books. Then place a magnetic pencil holder to the outside with plenty of sharpened pencils and pens for quick and easy use. A hanging basket is a great place to keep crayons, markers, glue, glitter, pencil sharpeners, erasers and sticky notes. Leave notes for your kids on their backpacks that say things like “dentist appointment at 1:00”, “bring snack for the class today” or anything that you need for them to remember. A dry erase calendar used only for school is also a good thing to keep inside the closet door.

If you need to make space in your closet for all of these things, hang your coats on space saving hangers. Clips and cascading hooks can save you a lot of space. When everything is organized and ready to go, you will be too.

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.

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