Storage Solutions In The Bedroom

In this, the last of our storage series installments, we are going to be talking about solutions in the bedroom.  Organization in our bedrooms is key as research shows that we sleep better in clean, well put together rooms!  Get your sleeping space into gear with these easy ideas:

• Headboard Storage Space:  Take advantage of any and all nooks and crannies afforded within your room.  The headboard is an often overlooked storage opportunity.  For a truly unique statement piece, consider having a customized built-in bookcase headboard installed to house lamps, books, knick-knacks, or photos.

• Under Bed Stowaways: Utilize the space under your bed by packing it with storage bins filled with off-season clothing, extra linens, or other seldom needed items.  Use clear containers to keep items visible for future reference and attach casters or drawer pulls to make for easy access.

• Expand Your Closet:  If you lack the proper storage space, it is hard to stay organized no matter how hard you try!  Bedroom storage centers on the closet.  If yours is simply too small for your needs, consider expanding your closet with a bedroom renovation.

• A Place For Every Item: The key to organization (regardless of the room being organized) is to have a home for each and every wayward item, making cleanup and storage a breeze.  Consider those things that are most often found strewn about your room and designate a specific place for them.  For example, if your throw pillows can more often be found on your bedroom floor than the on the bed itself, place a large wicker basket in your room as a catchall for wayward bedding.  If your necklaces routinely end up tangled in a heap on your nightstand, place a few hooks just inside your closet door for an easy place to drop jewelry at the end of the day.

With this installment we are wrapping up our storage series, but stay tuned for more home improvement tips and renovation ideas in the weeks to come!  In the meantime, check-out our solutions regarding bathrooms, basements, andkitchens.

Backyard Improvements

In Minnesota, sometimes referred to as the land of two seasons – winter and road repair, that slim window in between known as summer is all the more precious.  Don’t waste your summer working in the backyard.  Instead, enjoy the season to its fullest while still making the most of your backyard with these simple fix-ups you can start on now, before summer is in full swing.

Stain The Fence: Spring is the perfect time to stain your fence in anticipation of the summer season.  Sunlight can degrade the lignin that bonds woods fibers, allowing water to penetrate and causing your fence surface to gray.  To avoid discoloration, stain your fence with a semitransparent stain fortified with UV blockers.

Create An Inviting Space: Invite family and friends alike to linger in your backyard for lazy afternoons or long conversations by creating a welcoming environment.  Create mood lighting by utilizing candle lanterns hung on shepard’s hooks, placed on railings, or hung from decking.  Not only do they require no wiring – they are also easy to move when the party heads in a different direction.  Also invest in seating.  Whether you choose to install an inviting swing or an intimate bistro table, seating encourages guests to stay a bit longer.

Go Green: Plants can bring your backyard from a bare terrain to a green oasis.  Lacking a green thumb?  Invest in pre-planted container plants or hanging baskets.  For maximum impact, select baskets that include lush and trailing plants.

Sound Selections: Transform a birdbath, a pot, or jug into a bubbling fountain.  Simply install a water pump inside your chosen vessel, plug it in and place a basin (to catch the water and recirculate) and listen to the soothing sounds of summer.

Storage Solutions: Just like indoors, storage can pose a problem outdoors as well.  Need a neat place to put your gardening tools or sandbox toys?  Install a custom-built outdoor cabinet under the deck or alongside the patio to create a simple storage solution.

Storage Solutions In The Basement

In the past few weeks we have discussed storage solutions for both your kitchen and your bathroom.  Today we are heading downstairs to create storage solutions in the basement!  Too often our basements become dumping grounds for the clutter that we don’t want to deal with.  However, the key to tackling this versatile space is to ensure that everything in your basement has a proper place!  Start with these storage ideas:

• Nooks, Crannies, and Closets: Take advantage of underutilized basement closets by assigning specific storage items to each unused space.  Install simple shelving units in unused closets to hold and organize items, while taking advantage of your closet’s vertical space in addition to its horizontal space.  You can turn the unused closet in your home into the perfect secondary pantry; or the extra space in your spare bedroom could be the perfect place to store off-season clothes.

• Custom Cabinetry: Still short on storage?  Turn your boring basement into a custom storage unit with cabinets specifically designed for your room’s space specifications.

• Install An Island:  Islands aren’t just for the kitchen anymore!  Install an island in your basement for added in-unit storage as well as an additional workspace.  Islands can also have the added benefit of visually dividing a room and making clearer distinctions between spaces of purpose.

• Keep It Convenient: Make ongoing organization easy by designating specific bins for frequently used items.  Assign one (clearly labeled!) tub to your daughter’s outdoor play equipment, another to your son’s hockey gear, and a third to your spouse’s fishing tackle to make returning items to their proper place easier for all members of the family!

Next week we will be wrapping up our storage series, so check back for another week of home organization tips and tricks!

Storage Solutions In The Bathroom

In a continuation of the storage series we started two weeks ago, today we are going to tackle clutter in another room of your house!  We last talked about kitchen storage solutions.  This week, we are going to be taking our organizational skills into the bathroom.

• Add Storage: Many bathrooms lack a closet or other ample storage space making organization difficult.  If this is the case in your bathroom, place a repurposed cabinet, dresser or small armoire in your space to keep extra towels, linens or other supplies on hand.  Or, for the ultimate storage solution, contract a professional to install custom made cabinets perfect for any nook or cranny that you have available.

• Clear Your Counter Space: In a room as functional as the bathroom, some countertop clutter is inevitable.  However, this doesn’t necessarily have to equate into messiness.  Cotton swabs, q-tips or other bulk grooming items can look in-place on countertops when stored in pretty glass jars or other decorative containers.

• Shower Shelves:  Nothing is worse than trying to start your day with a warm shower only to be greeted by cluttered shelves along the rim of your tub.  Take your shower from a storage space to the sanctuary that it should be with in-shower shelving.

• Manage With Magnets: Mount a magnetic strip above your bathroom sink.  Store toothbrushes, razors, and other daily use items on the strip by mounting small magnets to each tool before hanging them.  A tiny screw or metal washer placed on the back of your toothbrush will work as well if you don’t have an adhesive magnet handy!

• Cabinet Cleaning: Make the most of under sink storage by keeping this space clean and useable.  Laying down squares of self-adhesive tile will not only brighten up an otherwise dull cubby; it will also create an easy, wipe-clean palette for future spills.

Next week we will be tackling the darkest of home organization dungeons – the basement!  Stop by next week for our basement solutions.