home sectionhome sectionBasements are often ideal storage spaces in homes. If you have a large, open basement, sectioning off one area for storage allows you to use the rest of the space for other things. Instead of throwing sheets over the items to hide them, conceal the entire area with one of several options.
So you’ve decided to tackle those piles of photographs, books and other home clutter by using a smart storage system. Your options are endless: bins, shelves, notebooks, scrapbooks and labels. But how do you make these often-utilitarian solutions gel with the rest of your home’s décor? Those helpful plastic and metal containers can take up a lot of space. Plus, just because you’ve cordoned off your debris doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve improved your home environment. “You have to strive to fit in organization so that it doesn’t scream ‘organization,’ ” said professional organizer Justin Klosky. “It’s about improving the overall…
Fibronectin-coated flasks are often used in labs for the protection and benefit of storing and protecting epithelial cells. These cells cover the surface of a body and adhere to one another. The Fibronectin coating allows these cells to maintain their characteristics. While in the lab, not only the cells need to be stored correctly but also the flasks themselves. This process is pretty standard and straightforward and can be completed by almost anybody with some basic biological lab experience.
A ClosetMaid fabric drawer is a sturdy yet still collapsible drawer you can use as a standalone cubby or as a pull-out drawer in ClosetMaid furniture. The ClosetMaid fabric drawer also is compatible with other cubby furniture. Just keep in mind the fabric drawer's dimensions. The ClosetMaid fabric drawer is 11 inches in height by 10.5 inches in width by 10.5 inches in depth.
With the advent of mass production of goods as well as the development of digital media, storage systems have become a necessary part of daily life for many homeowners. These systems range from hard drives and closets to off-site storage units and "cloud" data management. Keeping track of the goods and data stored by these methods requires organization systems that are up to the task.
The most underutilized space in a home is usually the attic. In an average home, the attic is a disorganized, dusty repository for boxes, holiday decorations, old clothes and sports equipment -- as well as a catch-all for everything else. In the course of one weekend, however, you can recruit family members to clean and organize your attic, turning it from a messy storage pile to a working space where everything -- from sentimental memorabilia to emergency supplies -- are easy to find and put away.
ClosetMaid products promote organization within the home. If you are remodeling or adding a ClosetMaid product, such as a shelf, a closet organizer kit or a 48-inch wardrobe, ClosetMaid offers instructions to help you do it yourself, making the project more cost-effective. Each ClosetMaid item is sold with its own item number, which corresponds with the instructions for that product. Instructions vary for each item. If you aren't sure about the item number of a ClosetMaid product, you can still find the instructions by using an item description. ClosetMaid has made even the instruction process organized.
Putting together a survival kit for a year requires serious thought, careful planning and dedication to your cause. The basic needs for survival are clean water, food and shelter; to plan for a whole year without running water, electricity and grocery stores you must visualize life with necessities only and forget about luxuries like bubble bath, Swiss chocolate and hamburgers. T
Potting sheds are a necessity for gardening buffs and those who spend a lot of time outdoors. The small buildings have space to store and organize everything you need for your lawn and garden, including potting soil, seeds and lawn tools. Cottage potting shed ideas are simple ideas that match the cottage decorating style. Use the ideas on an existing shed or make one yourself.
If you're lucky, your bedroom has at least one reach-in closet where you can store clothing and accessories. However, you may find that this doesn't allow for maximum storage space, so your closet can quickly become overstuffed and messy, no matter how often you try to purge unused items. Fortunately, there are several ways to make the most of the available space in the closet so your clothing is stored in a neat and orderly fashion that allows you to easily locate items when you need them.
Plastic storage containers can go a long way toward getting your home organized. Plastic containers come in a variety of sizes at places such as department, home improvement and craft stores. With some ingenuity, you can get your personal belongings and clutter out of sight and well organized.
Conserving your local ecosystem can be as simple as recycling, trash collecting and even using reusable grocery bags instead of plastic or paper ones. Turning ecosystem conservation into a project may take more of an in-depth approach, but can be a rewarding way to give back to the environment and help promote the health of trees, plants, wildlife and even your community.
While actual, hard copies of photographs can be great, scanning them to digital copies allows you to share them with friends, family members and the entire world in an instant over the Internet. If you don't have a scanner in your home, the fastest way to scan photos to digital would be to locate a copy shop and pay to have a professional do this for you. This will be cheaper and faster than buying a scanner and hooking it up.
An organized home makes it easier for kids and parents to find what they need. Every member of the family can participate in organizing the home and keeping it that way. Homes that are kept organized are easier to clean. The organizational techniques kids learn in the home become a skill they can use the rest of their lives. You can inexpensively get organized for the kids and home to create a better living environment.
If your little one likes to play with Lego building blocks, you may already know they can get scattered across the entire house. You also may have heard your child ask for a specific block that he can't find, but must have in order to complete a project. An efficient solution for keeping Legos sorted and easily accessible is to use plastic bins. Once you organize Lego blocks and store them in plastic bins, your little builder should be able to find needed parts in no time.
Appropriate washing machine placement and laundry storage options make clothes-cleaning chores more efficient. You can easily integrate most organizational and storage alternatives into small or large laundry rooms.
If free space is at a premium in your home, you need to get creative with storage solutions to keep your belongings in check. Storage organizers provide simple, straightforward ways of grouping and categorizing your items so that you can retrieve and store them easily. Whether you're looking for hidden storage or stylish displays that double as organizers, a system for arranging your belongings will save you time and frustration.
Organizing your home isn't something you can do once and then expect it to stay organized. Organization is a way of living. It is having a certain place for every item. It involves responsibility from every family member to replace items where they belong whenever they are used. The majority of the clutter in your household is things that you no longer need, wear or like, are stained or need repair. Getting rid of unnecessary clutter and storing the remaining clutter properly is the best way to keep your home organized.
Closets can serve as the main source of storage for your household items. If you have a closet in your home that is not particularly roomy, there are a few things you can do to maximize the space to provide storage and contain clutter.
Protect your company by following health and safety regulations when storing equipment and materials or products. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets forth guidelines to help protect the integrity of businesses and to keep them running smoothly. Integrate a few policies to keep inventory organized and to protect operating equipment.
Chances are you have several closets in your home, and you'll want to keep each one of them as organized as possible. Adding functional solutions to your closet will make your important items easy to find, and there are cost-effective items that will help do the trick.
Apartments often fall short in the storage department. The fact that it is a rental and not your own may limit the type of storage systems you can add to the space. However, you can organize all of your belongings without sacrificing the living space in your apartment. Keeping your belongings neat and organized will make the apartment look bigger once you eliminate the clutter. Take advantage of the features offered by your apartment as a starting point for organization.
The National Soap and Detergent Association states that 80 percent of household clutter is the result of disorganization, not lack of space, according to a statistic on the website of the National Association of Professional Organizers Greater Philadelphia Chapter. Install shelves and bins to organize vertical wall space.
Even chemicals properly stored in appropriate containers can experience a leak. It is vital to keep only compatible chemicals in the same storage area. Otherwise, two or more substances may mix and violently react, cause a fire or even explode.
If you're anything like the majority of homeowners, you have an attic full of so many disorganized bags and boxes that you've long forgotten which things are important and which things aren't. While it might be easy to simply close the door and ignore the mess, a well-organized attic will simplify your storage problems and help keep the junk out of other parts of the house. So grab a list of organizing ideas, take a deep breath and venture into the attic chaos. You'll probably enjoy a few trips down memory lane while you're up there.
Forty-five percent of Washington state is covered with trees, and six percent of that area--or 3 million acres--consists of old growth forest, according to the Visit Old Growth Forests website. Some of the nation's largest trees are in Washington old-growth forests. American Forests, a nonprofit organization, maintains the National Register of Big Trees, which ranks trees by trunk circumference, height and average crown spread. Of the 733 registered trees, five of the top 20 are located in Washington (as of October 2010).
In the Windows operating system, if you want to list all your computer's available storage devices you go through the "My Computer" (for Windows XP) or "Computer" (for Vista and 7) desktop icons. The Linux operating system has a similar utility that's available on your desktop the first time you boot up your computer. This utility will show you all storage drives, both internal and external.
Storage containers are a necessity in every home. They cut down on clutter and enable you to store things in appropriate areas where you can locate them quickly. The containers allow the person to stash them in attics, closets, under beds and other areas while protecting the items from dust, insects and mildew. Keeping your home organized with storage containers will save you time in locating certain items. It will also save you money by storing them safely, such as seasonal clothing and collectible Christmas ornaments.
Potting shades aren't just for gardening. They are also the spot to sit back and listen to the fall of the rain or watch your garden grow. Potting sheds need to be well-equipped and organized to keep the space functional. When designing the space, accent the room with personal accessories to create a homey feel. Create small vignettes around the space like a planting area, storage space and relaxing spot.
A well-organized makeup collection can alleviate the stress of having to rummage through piles of cosmetics just to find a favorite lipstick or eyeshadow. If you find your makeup collection is cluttering up space and getting ready is difficult, then it's time to organize. For some, organizing may be second nature. But for those who need a little help sorting the clutter of a makeup drawer or bag, here are several tips for storing and organizing beauty products and tools.
Organizing can be a challenge. You can group large objects together and make a label for the outside of the bin that indicates the bin is full of that item. This becomes more difficult if the plastic container is time sensitive, or is organized by color or some other criteria. Identify the main contents and then use sub-categories to describe fewer or less-important items. If you select bins that are translucent, you can position the labels inside the bin facing outward. This prevents labels being scraped off. Label the top and two sides in case a container is stored backward;…
Shoes can be an organizational challenge. They are bulky, take up a lot of space and most people tend to have many different pairs. The best way to store shoes is on shoe shelves placed inside a closet, but even shoe shelves can become disorganized. Here are a few tips to organize shelves for shoe storage.
In the average home, there usually is a good list of separate laundry items or tools. For example, a person may store detergent and bleach, as well as extra motor belts or tools for repairing and maintaining a washer or dryer. Leaving these items tossed on an open shelf can be unsightly and pose safety risks for infants and children. Laundry storage and utility cabinets solve these problems.
Laundry rooms often become catchalls for a family’s storage and day-to-day items. Practicing good organization in this space leads to better efficiency. No matter what the size of the space, a laundry room needs to accommodate specific functions. Adding storage and shelving or reorganizing the space can make it more efficient.
Even a modest jewelry collection can become cluttered and unmanageable without an effective storage method for keeping everything neat and organized. Depending upon your space, you may require something small that can sit on a dresser top, or you may opt for something larger you can hang on a wall. Hang jewelry in a storage organizer to keep your earrings, bracelets, and necklaces where you can see them, to enable you to wear your favorite jewelry often.
ClosetMaid® is a company that specializes in home storage solutions such as shelving and organization. Customers can design their own storage solutions or have a professional designer do the job for them. ClosetMaid designers can also install storage units as instructed by the homeowner. Areas of the home well-suited for storage improvements include bedroom closets, kitchens, basements and garages.
Replacing that old used appliance in your house will do more than just help you go green. Newer appliances tend to be much more efficient, allowing you to use less energy and save on those monthly bills. This helps both the energy companies and the homeowner. Combine that with the fact that many nonprofit organizations could use these appliances, you have more reason than ever to recycle. Call up a charity and choose to give the appliance away, or drop it off at a government-organized location.
A storage cube may be a small plastic bin the size of a shoe box or a large bin that comes up to your knees, with a firm, interlocking lid. Using cubes to organize your life, whether it be just office or garage supplies, or creating a system to keep your entire house and daily functions in line, can be simple and inexpensive. Storage cubes are available from dollar stores, mass merchandisers, organization specialty stores and online retailers. Determining how to organize your cubes once you get them can streamline your life.
An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro-organisms in an area functioning together with all of the physical factors of the environment, according to Tutorvista.com. An ecosystem exists among many other ecosystems and can be vast or microscopic. It is easiest to study smaller ecosystems so that students might find ways to adapt the efficiency of a particular ecosystem and find ways to apply its benefits to improving other ecosystems.
There are federal grants available to nonprofit organizations and state and local agencies to create and rehabilitate parks and recreational areas around the country. Applicants for the financial award must meet the requirements set by the grant program, which may include the acquisition of outside funds to match the grant amount.
One of the most frustrating things that can occur at work or in a home office is the inability to locate important files in a cluttered, overstuffed filing cabinet. An easier method of filing is by keeping organized. Organization can be a challenge, and one way to make it easier is to do a complete overhaul on a filing cabinet and set up an organizational system that will work for years to come. Setting up an easy method of filing may take some time, but in the end you will be able to find important documents and files in a…
Pegboards are a functional way to turn a messy garage space into a clean, functional work and storage area. There are plenty of ways to use pegboard in your garage to help you store tools, organize miscellaneous items and keep your valuable things in a visible place.
Having long-term food storage is a way to assure that food will be available for your family during times of need, or just keep staple goods at hand and organize bulk shopping purchases, though storing all that food can be cumbersome and difficult. Organizing your long-term food storage containers can help you access what you need, when you need it, keep track of rotation schedules, and provide the optimal shelf life of your foods. Whether you live in a 5,000 square foot house or a studio apartment, there is a way to organize your long-term food storage containers to optimize…
Home organization is always a challenge; if you can come up with a system that works, you're successful. Using wire storage crates gives you the advantage of being able to quickly see what's inside each container without having to worry about lifting a lid or even reading a label. Many wire storage crates are also attractive enough to use on open shelving, and since they come in a variety of sizes, you'll be able to find one to accommodate all your items in need of organization.
Some people need every last inch of their closet space for storage. Others may be using what they think is every available inch, but with a bit of reorganization and a few storage solutions, they would have plenty of space to spare. If you fall into the latter category, or if you don't have a storage problem in the first place, that leftover space can make an excellent study area or office.
While tin cans are excellent storage devices, their round shape makes them a little difficult to store efficiently. If you put together a simple can storage rack, you may find all kinds of extra room in your pantry. The most efficient are rolling racks, which are box-shaped with slanted shelves inside to store the cans as gravity pulls them toward an opening on the bottom.
Should you redo your garage to gain some space and peace in your life? Does your garage look like a dark hole where you can't find any of the items you know must be there? Maybe these ideas will head you in the right direction.
Let's face it -- any items we don't use on a regular basis seem to end up in the basement. Unfortunately, it only takes a few years to amass quite a collection of excess "stuff" that can add up to a major storage problem. Basement storage issues can be solved with some decluttering, sorting and organizing.
Organizing a room, office or garage is never easy. It takes focus, consideration for space and some imagination. You never want to just store items, label them and then close the door. Instead, opt for a system that allows for easy handling and access regardless of how your needs might change. Learn a few strategies for organizing storage.
Any home located in an area that is likely to have a natural or man-made disaster should have a survival supply kit prepared ahead of time. These types of emergencies could be hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes or earthquakes. Your actual survival after an emergency could depend on your supplies. It may not be possible to get these items once the emergency occurs. It is strongly suggested that you have all of the supplies needed for survival ahead of time.
Every self-respecting pack rat will scoff at any suggestion to "discard or donate" items in order to be more organized. Pack rats hoard things because they have the foresight to archive items that they might need in the future. Pack rats also justify their compulsion to hold on to items because they want to be eco-friendly by reusing and recycling. Pack-ratting, however, can quickly lead to clutter and disarray. Here are some tips on how to be a pack rat and still remain organized.
The Walmart Digital Photo Center was created so Walmart customers can use the Internet to create and develop digital photos. If you have a digital camera or pictures already stored on your computer the Walmart Digital Photo Center will help you to customize and order prints easily. Downloading pictures from your camera is fast and easy and you can also store them for later access. You can have your pictures professionally developed and shipped without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Whether you are outgrowing your home or have relocated to a smaller place, storage and lack of it, often becomes an all critical issue. For some pack rats it's a matter of learning how to let go of unneeded items. Regardless of your situation, however, you can both increase your storage space and disguise storage areas to fit your style. Read on to learn how to disguise storage areas.
Fighting off the winter chill involves covering every inch of your body, especially your hands and your head. Once inside your home where you control the heat, you do not need these items any longer. Unfortunately, they look messy and cluttered just piled on a table and shoving them in coat pockets makes them harder to find when you need them. There are better options. Wool and knitted gloves and mittens need to breathe while stored, making canvas or wire mesh storage options ideal.
Pantries provide necessary storage in your kitchen, but these simple spaces often turn into overstuffed, disorganized messes. This leads to frustration and overbuying, as we purchase items we don't know we already have buried under 12 bags of powdered sugar and potato chips. Simple rows of shelves, particularly in deep pantries, don't provide enough organization, but storage bins are an easy solution. Bins help contain non-stackable containers and keep similar items together. They slide on and off the shelf easily and can be carried to a table or counter so you can examine the contents more efficiently. All it takes…
It might feel overwhelming to look at the clutter in the kitchen "junk drawer," the hall closet or the spare bedroom -- but don't despair. You don't need a TV show like "Mission: Organization" or "Clean Sweep" to clear out your mess and set things to rights. Here are some tips for tackling any mess.
Movies are fun and digital video discs (DVD) have made collecting them more affordable and enjoyable than ever. A growing collection can easily get out of hand. Organizing your DVD collection ensures that you will always have your favorite films right where you want them.
