Efficient Strategies for Streamlining Your Home's Organization Process
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A well-organized home sets the stage for a serene living space. Simple yet
clever strategies can transform clutter into order. Key holders and desk
caddi...
Thursday
Ideas for Organizing Toys
So it's time to organize some new toys? Consider how much space, what you might need to open up more space and ask yourself, "Do the children really need that old thing?" Learn more about organizing toys here. Also, check out the following article, 8 Great Tips to Organize Kids' Rooms
Friday
Organize Shoes, Coats As Visitors Arrive
One of the things that can make such a nice looking home have that disorganized feel is when you first walk in and see coats and shoes near a door way piled up.
When guests come over for a visit, be sure that you have a place for all their stuff. Empty out a closet, a cabinet space, or drawers. Box your personal items and temporarily set them in another room until your celebrations are over. Visitors will ask that ever-popular question, "Where can I put this?" What the "this" is have a place for it from a hat to a bag.
Consider purchasing a coat rack if closet space is limited. Also, get a shoe rack. There are other racks for things like umbrellas. Some shoe racks double into shelf spaces too which would be great to collect your visitors' miscellaneous things.
A throw rug near an entry door is a must-have. You never know what people might carry on their shoes. Encourage guests to bring favorite slippers or have a few readily available if you are concerned about dirt all over your freshly shampooed carpeting. Have shoe covers available just in case you have an unexpected maintenance issue and a worker has to come over to fix something wearing dirty boots.
When guests come over for a visit, be sure that you have a place for all their stuff. Empty out a closet, a cabinet space, or drawers. Box your personal items and temporarily set them in another room until your celebrations are over. Visitors will ask that ever-popular question, "Where can I put this?" What the "this" is have a place for it from a hat to a bag.
Consider purchasing a coat rack if closet space is limited. Also, get a shoe rack. There are other racks for things like umbrellas. Some shoe racks double into shelf spaces too which would be great to collect your visitors' miscellaneous things.
A throw rug near an entry door is a must-have. You never know what people might carry on their shoes. Encourage guests to bring favorite slippers or have a few readily available if you are concerned about dirt all over your freshly shampooed carpeting. Have shoe covers available just in case you have an unexpected maintenance issue and a worker has to come over to fix something wearing dirty boots.
Wednesday
How to Make a Child's Apartment Bedroom Feel More Spacious
How to Make a Child's Apartment Bedroom Feel More Spacious
Friday
Clean Out Your Email Inbox
Looking for a simple way to get that email inbox done quickly? You can either check mark everything and delete it if you are certain that you don't need any of it. But then you run the risk of deleting something that you really want. So the first thing you will want to do is create folders based on your important interests. Things like: personal receipts, business receipts, home business oppts., photographs, etc. Once you have your folders created, then you will want to start selecting your email and directing them to each folder. As for junk, spam, etc. mark them as such. Also, be sure you unsubscribe from anything that keeps showing up in your email, yet you don't read. To learn more about online organizing, computer related tasks, etc., visit other links to the right of this page simply by scrolling down to your interest. Thanks for stopping by!
Wednesday
10 Handy Must-Haves for Your Apartment When You Have Nothing & a Limited Budget
Whether you are moving to a house or an apartment, there are some handy must-haves that will surely make your living quarters neater and help you maintain your household. You can find most of these items at local discount and department stores.
1. Garbage can that keeps odors contained. Why advertise last night's meal throughout your home from the trash can? Look for garbage cans that seal odors.
2. Decorative boxes or bins. These come in handy when you want to keep papers organized and out of site, clothing, shoes or anything else. The ordinary plastic bins are helpful when its time to move, one less thing to pack!
3. Shoe rack. What to do, what to do with all those shoes? Nowadays there are shoe benches, shoe cabinets, and other shoe compartments that organize shoes while keeping them hidden.
4. Drawer organizers. From utensils to cosmetics, these organizers keep everything neatly arranged and the great thing about them is when it's time to move, you can just take them out and put them in a box without all the fuss, and if something spills you don't have to worry about the bottom of the drawer being forever damaged.
5. Folding table and chairs (outside or indoor). Let's say that you just can't transport, afford or fit a large dining table at this time. Your folding table and chairs will not only help you in the meantime, but you can later use them for the yard sale you might have one day, a party, keep children busy, or for some other good reason. Always keep these around, you never know.
6. Air beds. Whether you need them for a guest or to sleep on for the time being, the air beds are indeed helpful when you temporarily have no bed for yourself or a guest.
7. Desk lamps with compartments and a writing desk. Easy to transport, don't take up a lot of space and will remain with you for years. A desk lamp with an attachment for organizing things will help keep your desk area tidy. A writing desk can be used for a computer, TV, or some other electronic device when you don't have much money for furniture. You can also build your own desk too with a number of items. See YouTube for ideas.
8. Basic kitchen tools that have dual functions. You don't need a lot of kitchenware just your essentials. One frying pan that has some sections in it to cook other things, a pot that can also be used to steam some things, a mixing bowl that has measurements, a soup bowl with a pour spout or dip, plates that are microwaveable, cup or glass that stays cold, and tableware that is rust and stain resistant along with a spatula that not only flips but can also hold on to items, a large spoon for not only dipping but mixing, and of course traditional butter and cutting knives that we have all seen used for a variety of functions. Buying items with dual functions helps you save money.
9. Curtains. If your apartment has blinds you won't need curtains unless you just plan on decorating or energy saving. Now good energy saving curtains are great if you have the kind of place that has a lot of sun or doesn't tend to stay cool or keep heat well. The curtains will shade the sun and help you save on your electricity bill by keeping cool or hot air in depending on the season. Curtains can also be used for walkways that don't have doors, as room dividers and also to cover unsightly walls.
10. Bathroom. Your bathroom essentials: a wash cloth, hand towel, bath towel, shower curtain and hooks, along with a great shower organizer is really all you need. However, the shower organizer will keep your items you use everyday in one place-- not as important as needing soap, but still a good item to have. But what to do with everything else when space is limited? How about a bathroom shelf organizer or a small cabinet for storing. You might also want to keep your bathroom trash out of site, so get a garbage can for the bathroom too that keeps the odors in and trash covered.
Bonus: Your bedroom essentials: at least one dresser or a similar organizer for clothes that don't need to be hung. From plastic and cardboard dressers and bins to wicker baskets, there are so many items that keep clothes organized.
For your bed, instead of buying a bed in a bag with pillows, shams, bed skirts etc. get a few needed sheet sets and a blanket. You save money this way. A storage chest at the foot of the bed helps keep your bedroom tidy.
Things like electronic gadgets, decorative picture frames, area rugs, and other items that are typically not used everyday, are usually unnecessary for someone who doesn't have much money, so why not direct your budget toward the things that will help you get organized first. Need something to hold your cds? Get a shelf unit. Need a stand for your TV? Check a thift store.
If it isn't an item that is going to improve your life in some way, then it isn't helpful or essential when you don't have much money. Maybe you might need a slow-cooker or a kitchen grill because time is important and you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then be sure you put money aside for these things as well.
You might be someone who collects many things and would like a way to keep them organized and off the floor, then consider investing in some wall shelving units. Whatever your need, look elsewhere on this site based on it and find more tips.
Nicholl McGuire maintains this site and is a writer. Feel free to view her work on her personal blog.
1. Garbage can that keeps odors contained. Why advertise last night's meal throughout your home from the trash can? Look for garbage cans that seal odors.
2. Decorative boxes or bins. These come in handy when you want to keep papers organized and out of site, clothing, shoes or anything else. The ordinary plastic bins are helpful when its time to move, one less thing to pack!
3. Shoe rack. What to do, what to do with all those shoes? Nowadays there are shoe benches, shoe cabinets, and other shoe compartments that organize shoes while keeping them hidden.
4. Drawer organizers. From utensils to cosmetics, these organizers keep everything neatly arranged and the great thing about them is when it's time to move, you can just take them out and put them in a box without all the fuss, and if something spills you don't have to worry about the bottom of the drawer being forever damaged.
5. Folding table and chairs (outside or indoor). Let's say that you just can't transport, afford or fit a large dining table at this time. Your folding table and chairs will not only help you in the meantime, but you can later use them for the yard sale you might have one day, a party, keep children busy, or for some other good reason. Always keep these around, you never know.
6. Air beds. Whether you need them for a guest or to sleep on for the time being, the air beds are indeed helpful when you temporarily have no bed for yourself or a guest.
7. Desk lamps with compartments and a writing desk. Easy to transport, don't take up a lot of space and will remain with you for years. A desk lamp with an attachment for organizing things will help keep your desk area tidy. A writing desk can be used for a computer, TV, or some other electronic device when you don't have much money for furniture. You can also build your own desk too with a number of items. See YouTube for ideas.
8. Basic kitchen tools that have dual functions. You don't need a lot of kitchenware just your essentials. One frying pan that has some sections in it to cook other things, a pot that can also be used to steam some things, a mixing bowl that has measurements, a soup bowl with a pour spout or dip, plates that are microwaveable, cup or glass that stays cold, and tableware that is rust and stain resistant along with a spatula that not only flips but can also hold on to items, a large spoon for not only dipping but mixing, and of course traditional butter and cutting knives that we have all seen used for a variety of functions. Buying items with dual functions helps you save money.
9. Curtains. If your apartment has blinds you won't need curtains unless you just plan on decorating or energy saving. Now good energy saving curtains are great if you have the kind of place that has a lot of sun or doesn't tend to stay cool or keep heat well. The curtains will shade the sun and help you save on your electricity bill by keeping cool or hot air in depending on the season. Curtains can also be used for walkways that don't have doors, as room dividers and also to cover unsightly walls.
10. Bathroom. Your bathroom essentials: a wash cloth, hand towel, bath towel, shower curtain and hooks, along with a great shower organizer is really all you need. However, the shower organizer will keep your items you use everyday in one place-- not as important as needing soap, but still a good item to have. But what to do with everything else when space is limited? How about a bathroom shelf organizer or a small cabinet for storing. You might also want to keep your bathroom trash out of site, so get a garbage can for the bathroom too that keeps the odors in and trash covered.
Bonus: Your bedroom essentials: at least one dresser or a similar organizer for clothes that don't need to be hung. From plastic and cardboard dressers and bins to wicker baskets, there are so many items that keep clothes organized.
For your bed, instead of buying a bed in a bag with pillows, shams, bed skirts etc. get a few needed sheet sets and a blanket. You save money this way. A storage chest at the foot of the bed helps keep your bedroom tidy.
Things like electronic gadgets, decorative picture frames, area rugs, and other items that are typically not used everyday, are usually unnecessary for someone who doesn't have much money, so why not direct your budget toward the things that will help you get organized first. Need something to hold your cds? Get a shelf unit. Need a stand for your TV? Check a thift store.
If it isn't an item that is going to improve your life in some way, then it isn't helpful or essential when you don't have much money. Maybe you might need a slow-cooker or a kitchen grill because time is important and you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then be sure you put money aside for these things as well.
You might be someone who collects many things and would like a way to keep them organized and off the floor, then consider investing in some wall shelving units. Whatever your need, look elsewhere on this site based on it and find more tips.
Nicholl McGuire maintains this site and is a writer. Feel free to view her work on her personal blog.
Friday
Find Home Repair & Improvement Tips, Project Guides, and DIY Advice
When you are ready to paint, do your lawn or perform some maintenance on long overdue home projects, the following site is very helpful. It provides tips in many different subject areas for you folks who like to do things yourself! Enjoy...
Find Home Repair & Improvement Tips, Project Guides, and DIY Advice
Find Home Repair & Improvement Tips, Project Guides, and DIY Advice
Monday
Mega Dens is Casting in Atlanta! : About Us : DIY Network
Interested in a living-room makeover? See here:
Mega Dens is Casting in Atlanta! : About Us : DIY Network
Mega Dens is Casting in Atlanta! : About Us : DIY Network
Wednesday
Need Office Supplies? Check Here First
Whenever I want to find out about something unique, new or interesting when it comes to organizing paper, a desk, media, and other office related products, I check out Office Depot. Now I don't always get my supplies there, but I do get a good idea of what might work best for my organizing goals. Sometimes I also catch a great sale and I always use my store discount card at check out. You can build points and use them to lower the cost of future purchases. I don't get anything for sharing this site. But if you need some visual ideas for your needs, go here:
organizer - Search at Office Depot
organizer - Search at Office Depot
Tuesday
Spring Cleaning?
Every year those of us who are very particular about our environments, will look around and say, "Time to start doing some spring cleaning!" This may consist of sorting old clothing, appliances, shoes, book, videos, and more. Items are bagged and ready for a local donation center. Others will clean house from top to bottom. Some will just do a little light housekeeping and hope one day that the other stuff will just work itself out!
If you are interested in spring cleaning, there are many blog entries on this site that will help you organize one room at a time. The key to a successful spring cleaning is to work one room at a time. Don't try to do everything all on one day. That kind of cleaning is overwhelming! It makes you and those living with you resent spring cleaning; rather than embrace it! If you want others to help you, consider giving them something in exchange for their service. Don't expect people to just want to do something just because. People living with you may not consider cleaning the house from top to bottom all that important. Besides, if you maintain your cleaning all year round, you won't feel pressed to complete the majority of your tasks exclusively during the spring.
Now for those who are new to all this organizing and cleaning, this is the time of year that those 30 plus moms and dads just might be putting many things out for yard sales, online auctions, and flea markets. The best thing about spring cleaning are those treasures you might find that people simply don't need or want. The holiday season wasn't that long ago and chances are many households inherited things that they really didn't need or want. So make plans to bargain shop!
When you are ready to clean and organize your home, do remember to list all of the supplies you will need to get your tasks done ie.) cleaning supplies, bucket, organizer, boxes, garbage bags, etc. Save some money so that you aren't going into funds at the last minute reserved for something else like bills. It can be frustrating to start cleaning a room only to realize you don't have anything to effectively completely your tasks.
Spring cleaning is a great time of year, but what is better is when you know that your house is clean and organized enough that this time of year can come and go and you wouldn't miss it!
Nicholl McGuire
If you are interested in spring cleaning, there are many blog entries on this site that will help you organize one room at a time. The key to a successful spring cleaning is to work one room at a time. Don't try to do everything all on one day. That kind of cleaning is overwhelming! It makes you and those living with you resent spring cleaning; rather than embrace it! If you want others to help you, consider giving them something in exchange for their service. Don't expect people to just want to do something just because. People living with you may not consider cleaning the house from top to bottom all that important. Besides, if you maintain your cleaning all year round, you won't feel pressed to complete the majority of your tasks exclusively during the spring.
Now for those who are new to all this organizing and cleaning, this is the time of year that those 30 plus moms and dads just might be putting many things out for yard sales, online auctions, and flea markets. The best thing about spring cleaning are those treasures you might find that people simply don't need or want. The holiday season wasn't that long ago and chances are many households inherited things that they really didn't need or want. So make plans to bargain shop!
When you are ready to clean and organize your home, do remember to list all of the supplies you will need to get your tasks done ie.) cleaning supplies, bucket, organizer, boxes, garbage bags, etc. Save some money so that you aren't going into funds at the last minute reserved for something else like bills. It can be frustrating to start cleaning a room only to realize you don't have anything to effectively completely your tasks.
Spring cleaning is a great time of year, but what is better is when you know that your house is clean and organized enough that this time of year can come and go and you wouldn't miss it!
Nicholl McGuire
Monday
Storage Containers
If you are seeking ideas on hiding your clutter in plain site, these containers just might help you achieve your goals. If you are budget conscious, you can always find similar things at local discount stores or yard sales. Click here.
Sunday
On the To Do List: Organizing Papers Quickly, Simply
Everywhere you look you see paper! From bills piling up to the children's school work. Let's make this clean up real simple today, shall we?
School Work
Start by getting a large, flat plastic container, you know the kind you would slide under a bed. Now you say, "Well that is too big!" Not if you have children in school it isn't. This is where all the kids schoolwork and every other paper school related will go. Let's not worry about any sophisticated filing system or some album or large three ring binder to store everything. The kids will be getting something from school everyday and it will be hard for them to decide what they will want to keep and what they will want to throw away. Therefore, let the plastic container be the one stop that all things school related goes. Now if you have more than one child, it would make since to get separate containers for each.
Receipts
Now on to the next task of paper to tackle. Organizing receipts from your shopping sprees can be real easy if you have one of those plastic expanding file folders. Organize it by month. Every time you shop, just store away your receipts in it.
Circulars & Magazines
So you have a pile up of mail. Take all your circulars and throw them away if you know you don't have any more money to buy anything else this pay period. Why tease yourself by saving them? Next, shelf those magazines even if you haven't got around to reading them. Sometimes we tell ourselves we will do something if we leave it out in the open, but if it has been some days that have gone by and you still haven't made the time to read them, then shelf them or take them to work and read them during lunch daily.
Bills & Other Letters
Now bills must be left out in the open if you plan on paying them; therefore, make a pile exclusively for them. You can use a pretty box, a plastic sorting bin, or something else that looks nice with your other decor. Place all bills in that spot every time you get them. As for everything else, pitch it, give it away, or shelf it until you have the time to do something with it.
Organizing paper doesn't have to be a challenging task. What makes this task a big deal for some people is they have know clue what to do with their mess. Define a space and then discipline yourself to keep with your system. Before long, you won't have to look at piles of paper going nowhere. Also, if paper sits for too long, you will find yourself with some itchy skin and weird bumps showing up on your hands and possibly your legs and feet every time you move paper. If so, you may have a problem with paper fleas which means you will need to throw all the paper out and get yourself one of those insect bombs. Unfortunately, I learned about this the hard way after taking a job with a company. It turns out the previous manager didn't believe in throwing away anything and the place was filled with literally years of paper. Needless to say, there were these tiny bugs that were having a party with all that paper he left behind.
Nicholl McGuire
School Work
Start by getting a large, flat plastic container, you know the kind you would slide under a bed. Now you say, "Well that is too big!" Not if you have children in school it isn't. This is where all the kids schoolwork and every other paper school related will go. Let's not worry about any sophisticated filing system or some album or large three ring binder to store everything. The kids will be getting something from school everyday and it will be hard for them to decide what they will want to keep and what they will want to throw away. Therefore, let the plastic container be the one stop that all things school related goes. Now if you have more than one child, it would make since to get separate containers for each.
Receipts
Now on to the next task of paper to tackle. Organizing receipts from your shopping sprees can be real easy if you have one of those plastic expanding file folders. Organize it by month. Every time you shop, just store away your receipts in it.
Circulars & Magazines
So you have a pile up of mail. Take all your circulars and throw them away if you know you don't have any more money to buy anything else this pay period. Why tease yourself by saving them? Next, shelf those magazines even if you haven't got around to reading them. Sometimes we tell ourselves we will do something if we leave it out in the open, but if it has been some days that have gone by and you still haven't made the time to read them, then shelf them or take them to work and read them during lunch daily.
Bills & Other Letters
Now bills must be left out in the open if you plan on paying them; therefore, make a pile exclusively for them. You can use a pretty box, a plastic sorting bin, or something else that looks nice with your other decor. Place all bills in that spot every time you get them. As for everything else, pitch it, give it away, or shelf it until you have the time to do something with it.
Organizing paper doesn't have to be a challenging task. What makes this task a big deal for some people is they have know clue what to do with their mess. Define a space and then discipline yourself to keep with your system. Before long, you won't have to look at piles of paper going nowhere. Also, if paper sits for too long, you will find yourself with some itchy skin and weird bumps showing up on your hands and possibly your legs and feet every time you move paper. If so, you may have a problem with paper fleas which means you will need to throw all the paper out and get yourself one of those insect bombs. Unfortunately, I learned about this the hard way after taking a job with a company. It turns out the previous manager didn't believe in throwing away anything and the place was filled with literally years of paper. Needless to say, there were these tiny bugs that were having a party with all that paper he left behind.
Nicholl McGuire
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