Organized Utility Room

Having a utility room is a great thing, but it can easily get too cluttered to find what you need when you need it. Getting this core space of your home organized will help you stay on top of other tasks around the house. If things have a place to go when you’re cleaning, then it is a lot easier to keep everything in order. A utility room, big or small, is a great place to create storage for multiple types of items.

You can begin by organizing the space that you use most in your utility room. This is usually the laundry area. You need to create a system that works for you. A small counter space can be a big help. You can use it for folding clothes or as a shelf for your laundry basket. Having a space for temporarily storing things can help you keep the clutter down. Just make a point of clearing it when you’re done.

Laundry baskets are cheap and can help you get your family to keep things moving in the right direction. Buy two of each color, using a different color for each family member. They can put their dirty clothes in one that is kept in their own room. Then when they bring the dirty clothes into the laundry area, they can pick up their basket of clean clothes. When they put them away, they’ll have the empty basket for dirty clothes and you will have another empty basket for when the next load comes out.

Utilize as much vertical wall space as possible in your utility room. If everything is on the floor then you will quickly run out of room. Invest a little in wall organizers for things like sports equipment and cleaning tools. Install some deep shelves for storing out of season clothing in large plastic containers. Label what is in each container by writing what is inside on a piece of paper and placing it inside the container. Make sure that the sign is visible from the outside. This way, people won’t pull down a lot of containers digging for something inside, and then leave the container out in the floor.

Another good idea for a utility room is to create a second coat closet. Find space for a hanging rod and stock it with clothes hangers. Hang your winter coats and suits that you don’t wear very often. This will keep space clear in your regular closets. The hangers that you choose matter, too. A good coat hanger is a wood hanger. Choose one strong enough to hold heavy coats. This will help them keep their shape and keep them from ending up on the floor. Cedar hangers are a good idea for absorbing moisture that gets into the air while you are drying clothes.

Once your utility room is in order you will find it easier to keep the rest of the house clutter free.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Design a Coat Closet that Works

A coat closet can become a storage space or your organizational paradise. You may not feel like you have much to work with, because most coat closets are very small. But, you can use these tips to make the most use out of absolutely every inch of that coat closet and get your house in order.

The coat closet is really used for more than just coats. Most families need to store backpacks, their laptops, sports equipment and more in this tiny space, just to keep it from piling up in the living room. The more people you have in the house, the more important it is to organize this space. You can create an easy-to-use system that works for your family.

Everyone has individual needs and habits. The goal here is to work with those habits so that using an organization system in your coat closet comes easy. If someone in your house comes in and kicks off their shoes by the front door every day, then put a bench or cedar box that closes there. The shoes will have a place to go, no more than a couple of feet away from where this person is going to take them off, anyway.

This is the idea that you want to have in your head when you start debating how to organize this little closet. If no one takes off their shoes there, then make another place for shoes by the door. That just frees up more space in the coat closet. You can put bins, boxes, baskets or shelves down there for each family member. They can put their laptop, book bag, sports bag, or other belongings on their own shelf.

It is also a good idea to put hooks, if possible, on the inside walls of the closet. Here you can hang tote bags, purses, scarves and more. If you have about six inches of horizontal space on a wall, you can hang a small basket for each family member down the wall. Hang each one at a descending height congruent with their age, or whatever determining factor you come up with. You can label each basket with their names. They can throw their keys, wallets, phones and change in their own basket, reducing house clutter and time spent searching for things when it’s time to leave the house.

Another great way to organize the closet is to utilize the door space. There are a lot of over-the-door organizers that are perfect for holding things like gloves, hats and scarves in the winter. You may look at pantry door organizers to find one that would most benefit your family. For example, let’s say you get a pantry organizer that has different sized movable baskets. You can have deep baskets for hats, medium ones for scarves, and shallow ones for gloves. You can hang multiple baskets for each family member so that no one has to dig when looking for their other mitten.

Store coats that you don’t use a lot in other closets. Try to keep the coat closet reserved for your everyday items. Use sturdy hangers to hang coats so that they do not break and result in your coats on the floor. Many clothes hangers work great, but a wood hanger or specially designed coat hanger works best.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

My Life Organized

Keeping organized can be very difficult if you lead a busy life. It requires that you have a little self-discipline. Keeping your life in order may not be as hard as it sounds if you follow a few basic tips.

You may find it helpful to create a homepage on your computer that displays your e-mail, your calendar, your deadlines, and your to do list. If you work at the computer, it is easy to add things to the list, delete as you go, and be reminded of what you have left to do every day as you work. You may also find it useful to have internet access from your phone. If you keep track of what needs to be done online, then you can access it from just about anywhere. No more losing little reminder notes!

Paying bills online can help you to keep your finances in order. Choose a bank that has online bill pay for free. Enter all of your debtors, utilities and payments. The bank’s system will show you the amount that you paid and on what date. If there is ever a question about whether or not you have paid something yet, you can just log in and see. You will never have checks out that might bounce, and you will never accidentally pay more than you have in the bank, because you won’t be able to.

It helps even more if you only pay your bills on certain dates. Ideally, you should set up the payment dates for all of your bills near the end of the month. Some companies will let you choose or change your due date if you ask. Pay all of your bills on the first of the month if possible. If you ever get behind on money, you’ll have time to make up the difference before any payments are actually late.

Once you have your schedule and your finances in order, you can work on your home environment. Clutter in the home can make organization impossible. Come up with a system that works for you. You don’t have to do it all at once. But, pay attention to what is piling up.

If you are slowly but surely accumulating a stack of mail, school work, magazines and newspapers on your kitchen table or counter, then you need to make a place for these things. A simple magazine rack, some baskets, or bins by the front door can save you lots of time and headache.

Another problem with home organization is keeping things that you use everyday where they belong. Make sure that your entryway is equipped for backpacks, shoes, coats, umbrellas, wallets, keys and cell phones. Whatever you and your family are coming in and shedding should have a specific place. Stock your coat closet with clothes hangers and use them! Don’t allow coats to gather up around the door or on a chair in the living room. A good coat hanger will generally be a wood hanger. Quality hangers are important because they keep coats from losing their shape or ending up on the floor.

Getting your schedule, finances and the entrance to your house organized should not take very long and should actually free up more time in your schedule.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

10 Easy Home Improvements

1. Painting is the easiest way to give your home a facelift. It is relatively easy, inexpensive and can make a huge difference in the way a room looks. It will look fresh and clean when you are done. You can also add crown moulding or paint trim a contrasting color to make the new color pop.

2. After you paint, replace light switches, outlets and plates. You will be surprised how much better a room looks when you get rid of those old and dingy switches. Many people skip this step and it just takes attention away from the clean feeling of a freshly painted room.

3. Replace old lighting to make the room look even better. Not only are newer fixtures more energy efficient, but they are also safer. If you are sensitive to bright lights, remember to select light fixtures that point upwards toward the ceiling, or that are encompassed in a frosted globe. Interesting lighting and fixtures can dramatically change the feeling of a room.

4. New shower curtain and bath mats in the bathroom can go a long way. Solid white makes a bathroom look super clean and bright. It even gives the illusion of space. You may want to paint the walls a contrasting, darker color to make the white really shine.

5. Tile a small room. It doesn’t take much time or money to replace a small bathroom floor. If you are new to tiling, do a practice run on a board in your garage or outside. See if you are happy with the results before you commit to the whole bathroom.

6. Replacing your front door can add value and beauty to the entrance of your home. It can also be better insulated than your old door and save you money on your power bills. Since the front door is the first thing that people see when they come to your house, a really nice one can have a big impact on how people view your home.

7. Replace blinds with shades or curtains to update the room. You can sew your own to create a unique atmosphere and save money. Drapes can be purchased with thermal backing to keep heat out.

8. Upgrade faucets in your bathrooms and kitchen. It makes your house look great. If you are having surprise company, quickly wipe down counters and your faucets will take attention away from other messes.

9. Clean house! Decluttering and getting rid of junk is the simplest way to make your house look bigger, nicer and more inviting.

10. Organize closets to finish off the home. Toss out old clothes hangers and invest in some high-end hangers. Use a special coat hanger for heavy coats to help them keep their shape and not end up on the floor. The wood hanger will make your closet appear orderly and streamlined. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference nice clothes hangers can make!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Metal “Wonder” Hangers

There are many ways to get your closet organized. You can add a few shelves or design an elaborate organization system. But, if you’re looking for a fast, easy way to get your closet in order, there is nothing better than to update the types of clothes hangers that you use.

Some hangers can double or triple the space in your closet! Add in a few metal “Wonder” hangers and your closet can be more spacious than you ever imagined, without having to get rid of a lot of clothes or investing a lot of money. Here we’ll discuss how different types of hangers can make your closet look nicer and give you extra space.

Metal hangers are slim and strong, a far cry from flimsy wire hangers that can bend, get tangled and snag your clothes. Metal hangers are solidly constructed and have a heavy gauge. They fit closely together, freeing up space without compromising the fabrics of your clothing.

Velvet hangers are also known as slim line hangers. These hangers are flat, which allows them to also fit very closely together. A lot of people really love these because the velvet coating helps to keep clothes from slipping. Another reason these are so popular is because they come in a wide variety of colors and styles that make your closet look attractive while saving a lot of space.

Specialty clothes hangers are another option. Some hangers are made specifically for certain types of garments. When they’re hung on a hanger that is made for them, they don’t get crammed together and wrinkled, but they still hang very close together. You can use a wood hanger or a coat hanger for your heavier items. Hangers like these are curved in a way that helps suits and coats keep their proper shape while nesting together to preserve space.

Metal "Wonder" hangers are cascading hangers that allows you to hang any type of clothes hanger s on them. They hang on your closet rod. You can hang as many hangers on it as you want and then unhook one end. It lowers on that end and lets the entire rack of clothes hang down from it, taking up the space of only one hanger. Cascading hangers are very popular because they are the easiest, most inexpensive way to make a lot of room in your closet. Metal “Wonder” hangers have a sturdy construction and can hold just about anything that you want to hang from them. In addition, you can use them for belts, purses, totes and more.

Organizing your closet has never been easier. By using the clothes hangers that match your style and needs, you can easily make space. You can purchase a few cascading clothes hangers like the metal “Wonder” hanger and uncover more space than you ever imagined. Throw in the right coat hanger or wood hanger and your closet is going to be a magnificent addition to your home!

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.

Keeping Closets Organized

Many homes are built with small closets. Homeowners need to find new and creative ways of either using their space more wisely or expanding their closets to suit their needs. The closet is the space in most homes that is in the most need of organization. Since this is an area of the house that is used daily, it is important to find a system that works for you.

An ideal closet system would have a space for everything that you use daily, plus enough room to store things that you don’t need all the time. We definitely need our closets to store our clothes that we wear every day, but some people need to also store their out of season clothing, linens, socks, jewelry and more. Things end up just crammed into spaces where they cannot be easily accessed, or thrown into boxes where you are likely to not see them for a few months or even years.

You may be thinking that even when you get it organized, it will be a challenge to keep it that way. Keeping the closet neat once you get it organized can be a challenge for most folks. But, by following a few simple guidelines, you can make it easy on yourself. One way to keep it clean is to come up with a system for making sure that everything goes where it is supposed to the first time.

When you fold your laundry, do you do it in the laundry room or in your bedroom? A lot of people find it easiest to keep their closets straight if they hang and fold their clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer. You can use a rolling garment rack near the dryer to hang everything on clothes hangers as soon as they come out. They won’t get wrinkled and they’ll be ready to go directly into the closet.

You may need to mount a permanent hanging rod above your washer and dryer. Stock it with enough clothes hangers that you do not constantly have to return to your closet for more hangers. You can get an inexpensive hanger rack for easily transporting empty hangers from the closet to the laundry room without getting them tangled up.

Hang the things that you use often at about eye level. Avoid storing items that you use a lot lower than your knees or you won’t be able to see where they go very easily, and you’ll end up putting them in another place where they don’t belong.

Use buckets, bins and shelves to store other items around the outside, top and bottom of the closet and label the container. You are less likely to put something into the wrong container if the label is staring you in the face telling you that you are doing it wrong!

Use a sturdy coat hanger or wood hanger that is thick enough not to get tangled or crossed up on the bar. If your clothes hangers stay straight, your closet will have that nice organized appearance that you are looking for.

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.