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oss••o•e:
• kl For containers that
stay on display, bins in a nice material (wicker,
canvas or colorful acrylic) can actually
be a welcome addition to the decor.
Organize
inch of your home
28 easy tips and inexpensive picks to cut clutter and
maximize storage space.
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ENTRY Neaten up this zone with bins, hooks and shelves.
CMID The top 4 feet of the room Add a ledge or shelf to the mudroom, entryway coat closet and pass-through spaces to stash seldom-used items like holiday decorations or the vitamins you bought in bulk.
TRY THIS: ClosetMaid 3'x12" Ventilated Wire Shelf Kit, $14; homedepot.com
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2 LIVING ROOM Keep this comfy space pretty and tidy with double-duty furnishings.
CRAP TH • •
Overwhelmed by all the manuals for your TV and other devices? Toss the
print versions to streamline storage if a digital copy
is available online.
C!333 Built-ins and bookshelves Shelves can usually be adjusted. Fit more by raising or lowering them to accommodate taller or shorter books, frames and decorative items.
■ STORAGE OTTOMANS From bench-size trunks to petite poufs, plop these pieces around the house to hold extra pillows, double as seating or act as an in-a- pinch snack table.
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(MM) Side tables
Accent tables don't just hold lamps! Choose one with a drawer, door or
shelves underneath to give yourself a
spot for magazines, remote controls
and more.
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SMART PIECE
Don't want to buy a new end table?
Throw a tablecloth over one of your own
to create storage space underneath.
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48 womansday.com October 2012
0
SMART PIECE Pull out any empty
hangers and dry- cleaning bags in your closet. You have more
hanging space than you thought! CMG
Your closet Put in another bar about 30
inches below your standard one
to double your hanging space.
Look for one that attaches to your current rod for a construction-
free fix.
TRY THIS: Double Hang Closet Rod, $10; containerstore.com
3 BEDROOM Cleverly concealed add-ons boost storage without sacrificing serenity.
CID Under the bed Roll - out bins transform this dust bunny den into prime real estate for extra linens or out-of-season clothing. If you don't mind the added height, bed risers will give you even more room down below. A tailored skirt will hide it all.
TRY THIS: ClearView Under-Bed Storage Box, $17; target.com . Mahogany Wood Bed Lifts, $25 for a set of 4; bedbathandbeyond.com.
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SIFT THROU
DRESSER WITH MORE DRAWERS Don't settle for the standard four! A taller five- or six- drawer dresser takes up the same amount of floor space, but gives you a vertical foot or more of storage. Plus, those upper compartments tend to be smaller—and less likely to turn into a jumble.
•
50 womansday.com October 2012
Reuse & reorganize Save money by repurposing these items into storage superstars.
Shower curtain rings Use them to...make a hanger for silk scarves and neckties. Just clip them together and hang from your closet rod.
■ Silverware trays Use them to...stash lots of little
things, like pens, pencils and scissors on your desk or makeup in a bathroom cabinet drawer.
■ Over-the-door shoe organizers Use them to...corral everything from winter accessories (hats, gloves) in an entryway closet to dry goods (pasta, crackers) in the pantry.
■ Paper towel holders Use them to...stack bangle bracelets—or attach one that mounts to a wall or the back of the closet door as a necklace hanger.
■ Letter sorters Use them to...hold plastic storage lids upright in your cabinet.
■ Side-loading letter trays Use them to...organize takeout menus, recipe ideas and phone lists in your kitchen cabinet.
■ Plant urns Use them to...hold oversize utensils that won't fit into your kitchen cabinets.
■ Ice cube trays Use them to...store easily lost accessories. The best part? They're stackable!
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When it comes to non-display storage vessels, choose ones that hit the three S's: squared-off, stacking
and see-through.
Locate sneaky spots that can work harder above or behind your most-accessed areas.
KITCHEN & UTILITY ROOMS
CMID The space above your cars Install platform shelving 2 feet below your garage's ceiling to gain extra storage all around the perimeter—and still be able to open your car doors.
TRY THIS: Shelving from $159 for 2'x6' shelf; saferacks.com
CM9 Kitchen cabinets
Most cabinets are about 2 feet deep, and chances are the stuff in the
back hasn't seen the light of day in
years. Retrofit base cabinets with
slide-out drawers and it's all easily
accessible.
TRY THIS: Premier Pullout Shelving, from $42 for 6"w x 23%"d; kitchenshelves.corn
54 womansday.com { October 2012
Divided storage boxes
"These fabric- covered boxes
are pretty enough to
display, but come with dividers, nesting pieces and a top that doubles as a
tray for maximal organization."
DEB LEE Owner of D. Allison Lee, Marlboro, MD
Bento Box, $7 to $23 each; rubbermaid.com
for stores
WIN IT! 5 readers will win a 7-piece set of
Rubbermaid Bento Containers (value $114). Snap on the
tag to enter. No purchase necessary to win prize.
Please see instructions and abbreviated rules on pane II. Your carrier's standard
Internet rates will apply.
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56 womansday.com { October 2012
PRO PICKS What organizing experts keep on hand to conquer clutter in their own homes.
2 Adhesive
hooks "A quick—and
temporary—way to create hanging space without hammering
a nail. In a range of sizes and finishes,
they'll fit right in with the rest of your hardware."
ELLEN FAYE Owner of Ellen Faye
Organization, Cherry Hill, NJ
Command Hooks, $6.50 to $13 each; command.com for stores
3 Clear
stackable boxes
GG Anywhere from the pantry
to the linen closet, use these to corral smaller
items (snack bars, extra soap) and keep them
visible.•• KATHRYN BECHEN
Author of Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-
Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space
Clear Shoe Boxes, $1.89 each; containerstore.com
1 Space bags "They really do
work! Stash seasonal clothing or linens in these bags, then use your vacuum to suck
out the air so they take up less room."
DONNA SMALLIN KUPER Author of How to Declutter
and Make Money Now
Space bags, $10 to $40 each; bedbathandbeyond.com
Open-weave plastic baskets
"Use these to pull forward the items in deep cabinets—
and the fridge! The open sides make them good for veggies, and the handle
makes them easy for young or old hands to grip•"
BARRY IZSAK CPO & Founder of Arranging it All,
Austin, TX
Iris Plastic Mesh Baskets with Handles, $22.49 for 3; organize.com
Skinny felted hangers GG They take up less space
in your closet and the texture keeps silky fabrics
from sliding off. •• VICKI NORRIS
President of Restoring Order, Portland, OR
Felt hangers, $15 for 20 adult hangers, $7 for 10 kids' hangers; neatfreak.corn for stores