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You’ve probably tried all you can to de-clutter and organize your home better. The result? You still have lots of stuff lying around the house and no extra storage space.

What next? If shifting into a bigger house is not on the cards for you, your plan of action should now be to make extra storage by targeting overlooked storage areas around your house.

Here are some easily forgotten areas of the house that can be used for storage. Use these tips to organize things better to maximize storage. Some tips involve a little remodeling work!

Hallway

The hallway is a great place to store outdoor use items such as hats, a couple of scarves, coats, and boots.

You can fix some pegs on the wall for your hats and coats if your coat rack isn’t enough for your belongings. A little bench to sit on while wearing or removing shoes would be great. Find one that can also double up as storage.

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Under the Stairs

If you have a flight of stairs inside your house, the space under the stairs can be used for storage. You can conceal the space by installing a frame and a door. Organize the space by adding shelves and racks as required.

If you’re running out of space to display your collectibles, add glass doors and accent lights to the space. The space under the stairs can also be converted into a book case or closet. If turning it into a seating area, use furniture that can also be used to store items.

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Walls

If the walls of your house aren’t already packed with cupboards, shelves, and racks, now you know what to do!

There are various styles of shelves and racks available and you’ll be able to store a lot of your stuff in them. Install them as needed on your walls free the floors of extra clutter.

Draw your eyes right up to the ceiling and look for ways to add shelves or other storage options. With a sturdy stool by your side, you’ll be able to reach these areas easily.

You can also consider making wall recesses wherever possible to store knick-knacks or collectibles. Walls can be fitted with organizers to hold magazines, notepads, keys, etc.

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Closet Walls and Doors

If your closet is packed to the top with things, make use of the space on the closet walls and on the inside of the closet doors. You can install hooks, hanging rods, bars, etc. and hang your clothes, belts, handbags and other items that usually lie around your room or are thrown carelessly into the closet.

Be sure to invest in hangers that help you store more while taking up less space such as the specialty ones from OnlyHangers.

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Kitchen Island

If you have a kitchen island, you’re in luck! You can affix pegs and racks on the sides to hang saucepans, mugs, spoons, and more. If your kitchen island is in the form of a simple platform with empty space underneath, buy roll-out carts that will fit in the space.

If you are planning to get an island for your kitchen, get one with built in storage. You can store dishes, utensils and more in a kitchen island. Drawers fitted with glass doors can be used to display expensive china and crystal ware.

A kitchen island that has open shelves can also be useful in many ways. Open shelves can be used to hold utensils, and kitchen appliances like microwave, mixer, coffee bean grinder, meat grinder, etc. You can place cubbies or baskets in the open shelves to store wine bottles or to place fruits, vegetables, or other miscellaneous items.

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Under Basins and Sinks

It is often tricky to utilize the space under basins and sinks due to the plumbing installations. As such, people tend to shove things randomly into these areas. If this is how you store things too , or if you’ve forgotten about these areas, you need to utilize this space effectively to store more things.

Install rolling drawers and corner racks that will help you reach items kept at the back easily. Three-fourth circle-shaped corner shelves will also help you organize stuff. If you’re going for a simple drawer, fit racks on the inner side of the door to keep items such as cleaning fluid bottles, brushes, toiletries, meat grinder, etc. in.

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Furniture

If you have strong, sturdy furniture like a solid coffee table, consider undertaking a DIY project that will convert it into a coffee table with storage space.

Furthermore, if you intend to buy new furniture, look for pieces that are functional and can be used to store items instead of furniture that has just aesthetic value.

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Conclusion

Everyone needs storage space. And no matter how much of it you have, it’s always less. The tips mentioned here will help you maximize storage space in different areas of your house. These tips will be essentially helpful to people who live in small apartments.

Just because you have less square footage, doesn’t mean you have to do away with items that you simply can’t do away with. The trick to storing all that you want to have with you lies in organizing things properly. The better you organize things, the more items you’ll be able to store. Simply throwing in items together won’t help.

So what are you waiting for? Get started on organizing your home today to maximize storage space!

One of the biggest challenges in renovating a home is certainly lack of time. You might be thinking that it is somewhat terrible to go for home renovation. Think again, the fact is that by making some upgrades, you can definitely get a lot more out of your home. You would like to change your living room, renovate your kitchen, revamp your bathrooms but time is the main factor on your hands.
In this unexpected situation, don’t freak out, as the below mentioned home renovation ideas can help you greatly:

1. Addition of Extra Bedrooms
The addition of extra space and specially the bedroom is one of the most popular ideas when going for a home renovation. A majority of homeowners usually prefer to add an extra bedroom to their existing space. In general, it is due to the resale value or the handiness that it offers. An extra bedroom can allow additional space for different members of a family to live separately. Moreover, guests are allowed to stay at ease and this can provide an area for more storage. The practice of adding a bedroom to an existing home is less time consuming than it appears. Whether your son just passed from college and can’t find a job, you can go for an extra bedroom space. You can create an entire set by renovating your upper floor, without changing the central structure of your home.
2. Improving Your Kitchen
There is no doubt that kitchen is the main point of any home, may be a house or an apartment. Without a good cooking area, no home can be said to be proper since this is the place where you can cook food easily. After a busy working schedule, most people are fond of hanging out in the kitchen. Breakfast is eaten here, and even children are keen on doing their homework around their mothers in the kitchen. Renovating a kitchen seems troublesome, mostly when finance is a problem. Proper planning of any cooking area depends on your budget, and actually the kitchen structure has to be modified. It doesn’t mean you have to opt for granite countertops or something more expensive. The installation of energy-efficient appliances will help control your energy utility bills, and there can be good space to sit down and enjoy dinner with your family.
3. Some Instant Tricks
You can replace vinyl, metal, wood, or fiber cement siding, and thus you can save much money on your utility bills. Other best ideas are replacing ancient plumbing fixtures, opting for track lights in bathrooms and discouraging rubbish counters for efficient home renovations. You can purchase new dining chairs and tables. By creating your own patterns, you can renovate all the rooms to label your style. You own imagination and repositioning the existing furniture can truly give a classier look.
4. Hiring the Professional Experts
You might get embarrassed with a situation when you don’t have sufficient time and require the services of a professional expert. You would do well by hiring reputed and certified renovating experts. These experts not only help you save time and energy, but you can depend on them to make your dream home a reality. Simply browse through online websites offering affordable home renovations in your locality. Make sure to deal with genuine companies, and for this you can review their past projects or gazing through customer reviews. Choose a company after you are satisfied what they are offering and the cost factor.
So what you are waiting for? Go for renovation and give your home a brand new elegant look today with new additions.

It’s almost the perfect time of year to revamp your winter ravaged home.

Leaving behind the festive season’s relentless chill, we hurtle toward the first throes of spring, as your worn-out brickwork and wind and rain-battered windows breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Inside the home, though, your normally immaculate flooring and walls have seen better days, with throngs of muddy footprints combining to tarnish your surroundings and compound the January blues.

It’s time for a change.

If you’re anything like the rest of us, however, the alcohol-fuelled, gastronomic and financial excesses of winter loiter like an intolerable hangover in your mind’s rear-view mirror.

With your penny-pinching New Year’s resolution quickly cast aside in a post-Xmas sulk, your bank balance is akin to that of an insolvent vagrant, making extensive home improvements impossible.

Or so you may think.

Although statistics show we tend to spend just under a thousand pounds a year on renovations, it’s actually possible to spruce up your home on a much more wallet-friendly budget. Here’s how …

Improve the Exterior

Sprucing up the exterior of a home is a favourite for estate agents everywhere – and it’s easy to understand why: the facade of a property is the first thing a potential buyer sets eyes on. Although you may not be planning to flog your home, it remains vital its exterior is more chic than shabby.

With that in mind, make sure your garden path is kept clear, with uneven paving stones straightened out. Next, try giving your front door a lick of paint and purchase a quality door mat – check out The Mat Factory for an inexpensive range – to give your visitors the welcome they deserve.

Make an Immediate Impact

If you’re sick to the back teeth of your living room’s outdated decor and desperately want to decorate, avoid overreaching financially by only wallpapering one wall. Why? Because it’ll become the focal point of your space and instantly transform the room for very little money.

Additionally, if you want to spruce up your floors without forking out exorbitant sums for a new carpet, get your hands on some top-quality floorboard paint, as it can make a real difference to any room without breaking the bank.

Hunt Some Bargains

If you’ve ever watched Bargain Hunt on TV, you’ll know that David Dickinson – the show’s perma-tanned host – is fond of picking up aesthetically pleasing items he deems “cheap as chips”. To be more like Dicko, then, try hunting around your local charity shops or flea markets for some bargains.

Just because they’re second hand, however, needn’t mean they won’t add a new dimension to your home, with many items in charity shops handed in due to people downsizing or clearing out surplus items from their attics or garages.

Now it’s your turn …

Do you have any other wallet-friendly tips for our readers to spruce up their homes without hemorrhaging cash? Please let us know by leaving a comment below – we’d love to hear from you.

How do we brighten a kitchen without investing a lot of money on a complete remodel? Unfortunately not many people can afford to spend thousands on replacing furniture and buying new electronics. Believe it or not, there are cheaper ways to change your kitchen’s allure. Here are 10 tips to help you transform a boring cooking space into the most appreciated room of the house.

1. White accents

One of the easiest ways of bringing a kitchen to life is to adorn it with white accents. If your budget is limited, you can just use paint to revamp some pieces of furniture, such as the chairs or the kitchen island for example. Add white flower to freshen the room, and you’re done.

2. Smart accessories

Sheer accessories are a great way of lightening your kitchen on a budget. Invest in glass fruit bowls, tall vases, glass tables or even glass chairs to brighten your cooking space and make it more inviting than ever before. If you can’t afford glass, sheer plastic is always the next best alternative. Translucent accessories welcome more natural light, therefore expanding a space and making it feel bright and refreshing.

3. Make more space with great storage

Many people with tiny kitchens wrongfully assume that they can’t make more space. However, with the right ideas, you can convert a small cooking space into a bright room without a complete remodel. What does smart storage imply? Some convenient choices are chairs with compartments to deposit kitchenware, foldable table, and kitchen islands with shelves and underneath space for depositing chairs.

4. Lighting fixtures – placement and intensity

Tiny windows make kitchens look cluttered and congested. When it’s impossible to make more space, you can use smart lightning to create the illusion of space. Opt for LED lights because they last longer and they come in all sorts of light intensities. Select an intensity that best fits your needs.

5. Mirrors & glass

Who says you can’t have mirrors in your kitchen? Because you can; if your cabinets are facing the window, installing mirrors on the doors creates the illusion of two windows. More natural light will come in, and your space will instantly feel brighter and airier. If you want even more natural light have All Professional Remodeling install larger windows or skylights in your kitchen. 

6. Scrapers

Not many homeowners choose to place rugs in their kitchens mostly because they get dirty too fast. Scrapers on the other hand are ideal choices to make your space seem bright and welcoming. Opt for a light shade and make sure the chosen scraper is made of rubber. The material is durable, practical and easy to wash.

7. Sheer table cloths

Sheer table cloths create structure, and when selected in pastel nuances, they instantly change the overall aspect of a kitchen table. Match the color of the cloth with your kitchen drapes and the end result will exceed all your expectations. When balance is restored even the tiniest kitchens can look lively and interesting.

8. Open – shelving

Kitchen cabinets add volume and they often take up too much space. If you’re looking for a smart way to widen and lighten your kitchen, remove the cabinets are replace them with shelves. This will open up the kitchen; it will appear a lot more spacious and elegant.

9. Steel appliances and kitchenware on display

Steel reflects light, just like glass. But if you don’t want to replace the stove, dishwasher or oven, invest modest amounts in items like coffee makers, bread toasters and sandwich makers. Organize them properly and put other kitchen utensils on display. It’s done; now enjoy your urban kitchen!

10. Pops of color

Changing your kitchen’s dominant color will make you feel like walking into a new dimension. Go for something light but striking, such as baby blue or light pink. Pastels in general, are excellent choices because they create the feeling of warmth and comfort. Think outside the box and paint the cabinets instead of the walls.

Sometimes the biggest transformations can be performed using the simplest ideas. Complete kitchen makeovers are complex and expensive. Rather than invest thousands on new furniture, why not repaint the one you already have? Last but not least, never underestimate the power of excellent accessorizing. With the right items, you’ll be able to make the most amazing changes.

By Peter Smith and Kitstone.co.uk!

Knowing the ways of removing adhesive from glass can prove to be quite beneficial. It’s really annoying to find a mark of adhesive on the surface of a glass piece, after you peel out the price sticker from it. Your glass items can get other types of glues too, especially if your kids like applying stickers on mirrors, rather than in their sticker books. So, how will you remove those adhesive marks from mirrors and other glass items?

Image Courtesy: www.ask.com

Below appear the steps as well as some dos and don’ts to help you remove glue from glass, and restore their cleanliness and shine:

STEPS:

1. Clean the glass

Spray some glass cleaner over the glass surface and clean it well using a paper towel. Let the glass dry completely, before moving to the next step.

2. Use a solvent

Choose a suitable clean up solvent, like engine penetrating oil, acetone, lighter fluid or nail polish remover. Take a paper towel and soak it in the selected solvent. Then, place the paper towel over the adhesive. This would soften the adhesive. Leave the towel over the adhesive for a few minutes and then remove it.

3. Scrape the glue

Take a razor blade having a single edge, and scrape off the glue gently. You may have to repeat the process involving the solvent for 2-3 times, to remove all of the adhesive. To finish, apply the glass cleaner once gain, and then dry the glass using clean paper towel. The piece of glass should shine well, after you have completed these steps.

DON’TS:

To know the technique of removing adhesive well, you also need to know the things that should not be done. Listed below are what you shouldn’t do when removing glue from glass:

• In case, you are removing adhesive from a glass, which is a part of a mirror or a picture frame, ensure that you don’t apply solvent on or scrape any other area, as that may cause damage to the decorated surroundings.
• Make sure that the razor blade you use is single-sided, and not double-sided. In case, you are using a double -sided blade, you will need a holder too, in which the blade can be slided, for your safety.
• Never use the solvent close to an open flame, and avoid smoking when using the solvent and other materials, as solvents are flammable substances.
• Don’t work inside an unventilated and small room, as solvents can give out highly toxic fumes. For your safety, your workspace should be large and well ventilated .

DOS:

• When using razor blade for removing adhesive, make the strokes away from you always, so that the blade doesn’t slip, and you don’t injure yourself.
• When you clean glue from glass, and there are other things in the surroundings, like a picture frame, use masking tape for the surrounding area. This not only stops the solvent from reaching other things, but also prevents you from scraping them accidentally with razor blade.
• Always have some extra, fresh razor blades. The edges become dull quite fast, and you will be getting a faster and better result by using a sharp blade. Do not continue to use a dull blade, as that may damage the surface being worked on.
• Always give some time to the solvent for soaking in the adhesive. Although the adhesive should be soaked by the solvent within a few minutes, however, give about 15 minutes in the first pass, to ensure that the solvent has soaked all of the adhesive. You may find this time as too long, but you will have to put less effort afterwards for removing the adhesive.

With this advice, you would be able to remove glue from glass items efficiently and safely. Be careful while doing the work and take proper safety measures.

Mia Jones lives in California. She is working as Content Developer in Advanced Die Supplies, Inc. She loves to pen down her expertise in her blogs. In this article, she is talking about step by step guide for removing adhesive from concrete.

The doldrums of office work always hits hardest on Monday morning, especially if your workplace is about as cheery as a day at the clown crematorium.

In fact, you’ve probably slogged through a few workplaces that make you slump as soon as you enter. Dank, water damaged walls, desks chipped and peeling, computers that take decades to boot and chairs that seem purpose-built to give you a hernia – these are the hallmarks of workplace misery.

But those Mondays don’t have to be a slog. With the right eye for design, you can create an office that will abandon the doldrums and leave you feeling divine. So, what can you do?

Floral perfection

Wouldn’t it be lovely to skip through rolling meadows and roll around in dandelions and daffodils throughout your working day? Forever, you’d have those succulent scents tickling your nostrils. Bliss.

Yet, most offices have the colour of a coma patient and the smell to match. And that ain’t gonna make your daily grind pleasant.

To make your work more palatable, find a corporate flowers company that will fill your office with the flutter of flora.

Not only will a few office plants and flowers brighten your day, but the oxygenating effects of plants will act as an active stress reliever. Even if you just purchase artificial plants, you’ll feel rejuvenated by delightful dashes of colour.

Open all hours

Being stuck in confined cubicles is like being trapped in a cramped toilet – while you might not mind your predicament for the first few hours, soon the smell will rise and you’ll feel nothing but a damp misery.

That’s why so many offices have been making themselves open plan. With desks that are as free as a bird, you’ll foster communication between employees, a more creative atmosphere and greater sunlight on desks, which leaves you fresher than the sullen strip lighting of most offices.

For private offices, the concept remains. Replace that plasterboard with glass and you’ll be able to see the rest of your colleagues and build a better rapport.

Culture explosion

Have you seen those motivational posters that say things like, “Traverse the mountain of expectation” or, “Fly the plane of aspiration”? They’re about as inspiring as a bit of rotten wood stuck in some mud. Yet, bosses lap them up like a dog devours its dinner.

The truth is, you won’t inspire your employees with these pictures. So you might as well find art that will inspire them.

You don’t have to pick up a Rembrandt or a Cezanne – just find paintings that make you enthused and, with any luck, your enthusiasm will trickle down to that of your colleagues.

Ultimately, a welcoming office has to have soul. Without that, you’ll never enjoy working there.