How many instances have you needed to turn your house upside down while trying to find your car keys? Or found a thing that has been deemed lost for a long time somewhere you least expect it? These things can all be connected to clutter—the one big enemy of any room, no matter how big or small. If you frequently find your belongings just lying around, you might want to use some extra room to help you organize your possessions.
Every time you think of storage space, you're probably thinking of humongous shelves, kids’ toy chests, and that clunky closet located at the end of your hallway. No wonder only some people want to invest in good storage—it’s just not that “stylish”. But with all the containers for safekeeping now available, there are lots of creative ways to become organized without having to waste time worrying about these clashing with your house décor. Here are seven outstanding organization ideas you may try for yourself.
1. Baskets. Although more popular with country-style homes, woven baskets have a warm, homey look that goes great with any theme. Make use of them for keeping magazines, pens, jewelry, as well as other small items. In big, highly-cluttered spaces such as your living room, you can place a big basket or several smaller ones on or near your table. If you are opting for the latter, use baskets in various sizes and weaves to add a bit of interest. To save space, place your baskets on an end table or a wall rack.
2. Dividers + shelves. Room dividers are great for breaking up large spaces, but they tend to use a lot of space—space that can be utilized for safekeeping things. If your room calls for a divider, try utilizing a display rack or small bookshelf instead. That way, they will function both as a dividing element and a storage space. Look for an open-backed shelf so that it will look presentable on either side, or utilize two slimmer shelves and place them back to back.
3. Linear racks. Wall storage is a must for tiny areas, and the trendy way to do it is by making use of linear storage racks. These racks consist of a vertical trunk that has several holders installed along it. This would be a good way of organizing small things in your office, bedroom, or bathroom. And because it’s mounted on the wall, it takes up no floor space and will work great for tight spaces. You can even build your own—simply clean and polish an old wooden slab then nail on some L-shaped brackets at the front.
4. Niche displays. Don’t have enough space to display your collection of antiques? Try placing it on top of a closet or shelf. These spaces are usually ignored and tend to be dusty and dark, but if utilized the right way, they can make great corner displays. The spot is perfect for those special keepsakes that you would otherwise put away in a box. Install slide lights or an up-light for adding focus and draw eyes to the display. Limit yourself to three pieces for each display to play up their form and value.
5. Nested trays. So you have a large basket for all your cosmetics, but you still end up digging for your favorite perfume each morning? You can avoid this problem by keeping the storage small, or by dividing your containers into little spaces. Organize your toiletries in various containers, with the items you usually use in the largest tray and the less important items in the littler trays. This will give you easier access to everyday items while keeping the rest just within reach.
6. Recessed shelves. Wall mounting saves a lot of floor space, but because the shelves jut out from the wall, they still add to that cramped feel common in little rooms. A good alternative is building your shelves inward, so the rims are just on the same level as the remaining walls. This works particularly well with corner bathroom sinks. The side walls offer easy-to-reach storage space for bathroom essentials such as toiletries and towels. Be sure that you plan it well, though, since you cannot simply uninstall them like a regular shelf.
7. Old kitchen items. Used kitchen items such as pans, cups, and bowls can be recycled into trendy storage tools. Want to organize your jewelries? Grab an old muffin pan and position a different accessory in each muffin holder. Use a mug or an old cup as a pen holder, or a large bowl to store small toys and figurines. You can even take your old kitchen cabinets and rebuild them to make pull-out trays, creating a space-saving dresser drawer. Nearly any old item can be reused, so do not be scared to do some experiments.
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Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Courtney James
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