Space is Space and Stuff is Stuff

  You Can’t Have Both
        – Or Can You?         

So you’ve de-cluttered every inch of your home…and there’s still too much stuff for your space. Now What?
 
Well, as Einstein said, you can’t solve a problem at the same level of thinking that created it. What does that have to do with storage? It’s time to think outside the box- literally! Here are a few unusual storage ideas that you might not have thought of that might help solve that storage problem. For more, you can search “unusual storage” on the internet and find even more (There are some great visuals on Pinterest)!
 
For the Kitchen:
 
Metal magazine holders make great small can storage in the  pantry. Store them on their sides (like you see in some grocery store displays) for maximum use of space. The same idea applies to refrigerator soda can storage racks. Release them from their soda bondage and put them into service in the pantry for those standard soup cans
 
And while you’re in there, consider the humble broom mount. It holds brooms which are about the same diameter as…. plastic spice bottles. Mount these on the inside of your pantry door and your spices won’t be taking up precious shelf space.
 
Aren’t pot lids a pain? Well no more! Hang curtain rods on the insides of your cabinet doors and presto! Instant lid storage.
 
For the Bedroom:
 
Doesn’t it seem like everything gets stashed in here? There are some sneaky places you can store the lighter items. Consider bungee cords strung along the ceiling of your closet! You can slip wrapping paper tubes (or other light flat items) up here. Because they don’t weigh much, getting them down isn’t a safety hazard and they are out of the way!
 
Ladies: Too many earrings for your jewelry box? Consider a decorative metal radiator cover from the hardware store. Just attach it to your wall and hand those beautiful earrings in plain sight!
 
And what about all of those shoes? The answer: PVC Pipe! Purchase in a diameter large enough to hold at least one shoe. Cut into one foot or one and one half foot sections. Glue them together to make a tower. Then paint! Voila! A custom shoe tower!

 
The Bathroom:
 
Is your Bathroom ‘itty bitty’? Have no fear! Start with a wire bin from the stationary story. This is the kind that would be large enough to store a few hanging file folders. Affix it to the side of your vanity, next to the sink and it can store your hair dryer. Got headbands? Paint an oatmeal container any color. Attach to a wooden pedestal for height if you like. Stretch headbands around the outside and store your hairbrush inside.
 
Consider using inexpensive square baskets, attached to the walls by their bottoms, as shelves or cubbies to store rolled towels. Under the sink, attach a bar horizontally and hang your spray cleaner bottles over it by the handle (this would work in the kitchen too).
 
There’s no end to what a little ingenuity (and an internet search) will do for your storage problems. Space may be space and stuff may be stuff, but now you have some ideas for how you really can have both. It just takes thinking a little differently!

 
OK so now you have a million ideas all running around inside your head. Now there’s that little problem of execution! Not to worry! At The Fix-It Professionals we’re experts at taking your storage solution ideas and helping you make them happen. Read on for our March Special so YOU can have both space and stuff – cleverly stored – at a great price.

?>

Your Home is Your Castle

Is it Royalty Ready – Or Not So Much? 

After a day away from your humble abode, when you return home, does it look a bit too…well humble? Don’t despair! There are quick and easy fixes both inside and out that will help you make your home look royalty ready.
 
Even if your goals are not as lofty as entertaining the Queen, it’s still important that your home is easy to locate for anyone visiting. Having it “company ready” is not an insurmountable task. Here are a few ideas (that are not a royal pain) to help your home look more like a castle.

Start by standing in front of your house. Pretend you are a Realtor. Are the numbers clearly marked? Sure, YOU know where you live, but when you invite guests (or heaven forbid need to have fire or medical professionals come to help) it is very important that your home is easy to identify.
 
Has your landscaping obscured the street numbers?
Are the numbers easy to see from the street? Trim away any vegetation from your street numbers. If they are hard to see from the street (because of their size or color) head out to the hardware store for new ones. There are many options that are both practical and decorative, or you can go with the simple look. The choice is yours. Buy what makes you smile.
 
Next take a look at your front porch or entryway. Is it welcoming or does it look like extra storage? Take a few minutes to put away anything that doesn’t belong on the porch. Brush away cobwebs and give the porch a good sweeping. This will work wonders for freshening up your entry way. Is your welcome mat welcoming? A fresh new one will brighten your day every time you return home to your castle.
 
Next, let’s have a look inside. Does your entry way look inviting or is there just a lot of “stuff?” Whether you believe the Feng Shui principal that clutter is bad for  the energy or chi of your home or not, there’s no denying that opening the front door to a bunch of “stuff” is not very welcoming. As Flylady says, “you can’t organize clutter; you can only get rid of it.”

But what if that feels like an overwhelming task? Take it from Flylady; you can do anything 15 minutes at a time.

Here’s how to get started. Use your kitchen timer (Trust me, it seems silly but it’s really important to use a timer that beeps or makes some kind of noise when time runs out). Grab 3 bags or boxes and label them “throw away” “give away” and “put away.” Choose one room to work on and set your timer for 15 minutes. Survey the room and find something that needs to be tossed. Wait…you can’t decide? Flylady’s rule is that if you don’t love it or need it, you should not keep it.
 
Aunt Sarah’s hideous vase? Put it in the Give Away box. No need to store it for her, it’s YOUR castle!! That giant mountain of laundry? Put it in a pile and start the washer when the timer beeps. That dead plant that makes you sad? Throw it away!
 
When the timer goes off – STOP! And do something else. Have some tea. Go out into the garden and admire your spring bulbs. After you’ve had a break, if you’re ready for more, set your timer and have another go. You will be amazed how much you can accomplish in 15 minute increments!
 
If you get frustrated with decluttering, remember, your house didn’t become a mess in a day. It won’t look perfect in a day either. Once you’re done you’ll be proud to invite guests and fling open your front door as you welcome them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get a surprise visit from royalty? At the very least, you’ll feel like the King or Queen of your beautiful castle!

?>