Friday, January 28, 2011

Make the garage a functioning addition to your home for the whole family.

The family garage is a great space for working on projects, storing seasonal goods and housing sporting equipment. But often this space is so overrun with those things that you mean to get to at some point and just never seem to have the time.But with simple tips you can make it organized and more functional.
The Basics
Plan: Due to the nature of some of the items stored in the garage you may want to get an outside storage container to temporarily house your goods. This way you don't have to move the lawn tools into the house in order to find space to sort.
Prepare: Before diving in, look around at all the items you have. Develop categories for those items and then sort your goods into those categories. Examples of categories include Car Care, Lawn Care, Household Storage, Seasonal Storage, Sporting Equipment and Tools.
When putting items back into the garage, make sure to put similar items near each other and then label the location for each category, making it much easier to find your belongings. This may seem obvious, but in many garages where the nails are stored in the opposite corner of the hammer, or the seasonal goods are mixed in with various memorabilia.
Paint: A new coat of paint can really help change the overall atmosphere in the garage. Be sure to use exterior paint in order to withstand the fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
Details
Kids Activity Center: Include the whole family when developing a plan for your garage. Have an area for each family member to store their items. That way they know where to find and put away their own things.
Workbench: A workbench is crucial for most garages. It provides needed workspace and a place to take care of those home projects, instead of using the floor. Even a small garage can include workspace with a drop down workbench.

Hooks and Ladders: The larger tools, such as shovels or ladders, are difficult to store on shelves. A great way to get them up out off the floor is to use hooks and hang them on the wall or from the ceiling. Just make sure you can reach the ladder--you don-t want to have to use a ladder to put up or take down a ladder.
Finishing Touches
Labels: Labeling is essential when reorganizing a garage. Without labels organizing and maintaining may be difficult. The key is to label the container, not the shelf where items are stored. That way if the container moves, the items are still put in the correct container.
Color Coordinate: Use color-coordinated crates and tote bags for each family members' items. Crates can be hooked to the wall with matching totes below for easy grab-and-go storage.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Tips for Organizing the Bedroom

A chaotic bedroom makes you feel wired and tired. If you want sweet (organized) dreams, it's time to get organized — but be prepared to devote several declutter sessions to rout out chaos in the bedroom.
Get It Tidy Gather your declutter tools — timer, boxes, and garbage bags — for a STOP clutter session in the bedroom. Because so many unauthorized items wander into the bedroom (or are thrust there, unwilling, at the sound of the doorbell), the Put Away box will do extra duty during a bedroom declutter.
  • Sort. Set the timer for 20 minutes, and start by tackling the bed area. Drag everything out from beneath it, and behind and inside the nightstand. Sort each item into one of the boxes: Put Away, for items that belong in other rooms; Sell/Donate for no-longer-needed items that are still in good repair; Storage, for items that belong in storage areas. Using the same strategy, move onto dressers and bureaus, and any clutter littering the floor. Work systematically around the space and, little by little, you'll reclaim the bedroom as the sanctuary it's intended to be.
  • Toss. As you sort, consign broken items and litter straight to the garbage bag.
  • Organize. The smart declutterer notes where the clutter is coming from, and then looks for ways to prevent the buildup in the future. As you declutter, pay attention to the cause of the problem. Scattered piles of dirty clothes signal a need for a laundry basket in a nearby spot. Linty piles of pocket change, subway tickets, and crumpled receipts can be kept under control with a pretty copper bowl or wooden box designated for pocket-emptying at day's end. Stacks of unopened moving boxes, resident along the wall since you moved in, indicate a need for a household storage plan.
  • Put away. When the timer bell rings, stop the session. Circle the house with the Put Away box, put Sell/Donate items in the car trunk for delivery to charity. Add Storage items to attic, basement or garage storage areas.

Keep It Clean
If the bedroom is to be a calm and peaceful haven, it's not enough for it to be tidy — it must be clean, too. To achieve this, include it in the household cleaning schedule. The primary goal: to reduce and remove dust, dander and other irritants.
Weekly vacuuming and dusting is a must in the bedroom. Pay particular attention to window treatments; vacuuming drapes and dusting shades will help to keep air quality high. Baseboards, too, need regular attention to keep dust buildup away. If the room contains a television, computer or entertainment center, use an electrostatic dry cleaning cloth to collect dust weekly, as electronic equipment attracts dust.
Wash windows seasonally, and wipe down sills and window fittings to remove dust and dirt. A lamb's wool duster picks up any dusty residue on walls and snags cobwebs on ceilings or in corners; when necessary, wash the walls to remove smudges and stains. Seasonal cleaning should also include lampshades and the light-diffusing bowls from overhead fixtures; you'll see clearly and cut the dust with clean lighting. Allergy sufferers may want to add a portable air filtration unit to improve air quality.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Plants for decorating your house(Ideas)

Choosing just a few houseplants for your home is almost certainly out of the question for gardeners. But choosing wisely and with a certain intention in mind will guarantee that your houseplants will look stylish and not chaotic.
Decorative plant stands are a good choice to keep clutter at a minimum if you can find one that fits your room’s style. If you must put multiple plants on a stand, try to keep the pots the same or color coordinated. As a general rule, you want the plant, not the stand, to be the focal point. More on what to do with the plants you just aren’t going to part with a little later
. Large, well established plants can create a wonderful, warm focal point for a room. For this rule you can have fun; a bonsai specimen can be just as much of a conversation piece as a large parlor palm. On the other hand, don’t make your vast collection of African violets, though impressive, the focal point of your living room.

. Not only can you have fun with the color of the pot you use, but there are a multitude of leaf color and textures to brighten up or add contrast. Think Ming Aralia, Croton, Zebra Plant, or Philodendron “Black Cardinal.” Try to use color and textures to branch out your thinking about what a houseplant “has” to be.

Another good way to bring texture into a room is to use dried botanical material. Curly willow and dried grasses are an excellent way to add interest to a dull corner or add a modern touch to your decor.
. Whether you have a hanging basket in the corner of the room or a free standing pot, plants can provide the height needed to satisfy this rule. Just to name a few, Red-margined Dracaena, Shefflera, and Hawaiian Ti Plant are some perfect plants to add height. Make sure that when you use a tall plant, the pot is well-balance (read: big enough) to the size of the plant and the space.


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Home Decoration:How to frame a small piece of art?

Well,you can decorate your home with whatever you like,like any thing.. it can be a wooden decoration piece or painting which is bought at the store,but i find a small pieces of art which are usually done by  kids.They are very interesting and creative pictures.I also love the idea of framing pages from a book as a way to create inexpensive art. Cutting  a picture, takes a little practice and a steady hand.The only thing you have to do is to frame that piece of art, cut it through its outline and choose a nice color of paper which can go with the picture perfectly  and frame it.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Entrance design ideas inside and out side the house.

The important first impression of your home’s interior is almost always formed in the foyer or entryway. A reception area can automatically instill feelings of luxury and drama.Your foyer, or front entrance, is the first thing most people see when they enter your home. This space should be decorated in the same style as the rest of your house, or at least the main living areas, to provide a natural flow and order in your home. The entrance should also be functional and meet the needs of you and your family.This text can also be helpful for the people who wants to sell their houses quickly because it is a challenging time to sell a house,but there are many ways you can make your house stands apart.It's important to impress buyers right from the start.Some of the ideas require little money or effort;others are more expensive.But having a beautiful entrance will make your house more enjoyable to live.
Inside the house
1: Touch up paint,refinish or buff wood floors and steam or replace carpets(a light taupe Berber has classic appeal)
2. Lighting plays an important role in setting the mood in an entrance.A beautiful chandelier can do a perfect job. if not then you can add a lamp on the console table or bench,so that it looks more bright and welcoming.
3. Create a memorable entrance that looks and smells great.Start with a console table or bench and fresh fragrant flowers.A large mirror can make a small foyer seem bigger.
4. Clean.reconfigure and reorganize closets.Get everything off the floor and make sure hangers match.The closet should be less than half full to create a sense of spaciousness.
Outside the house
1.Reseed  the lawn,if necessary.Cut back or rip out any overgrown shrubs and perennials: trim and tidy up any plantings that remain.
2. Update or repaint the front door,adding new handles and hardware.Install landscape lighting.
3. Paint trim,and be sure  siding or shingles are in good repair.
4.Wash all windows and patio doors.Consider pressure washing the exterior of the whole house.
Great entrances are not always based on size. Whether your foyer is large with ultra-high ceilings or a small space just inside of the doorway, with some proper design, you can make a powerful first impression.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Decorating ideas..the mosth affordable.

I love the looks i see in home decor stores and i think everyone does,so it keeps me wondering how they do it and what are the things needed to make that pretty wall art,now that i have found out i want to share this  with my readers,so they can also get that look in their own homes,yes this  sophisticated home accents without spending a lot of time and money.The secret?Versatile and inexpensive Styrofoam brand foam is the creative canvas behind the beautiful decor.
1.Transform 1 sheets of Styrofoam brand  foam in to dramatic wall art with paper fabric,or even wallpaper. Shapes of styrofoam brand foam, including balls,cones and cubes,need just few finishing touches to create accent pieces that pull the look togather. whatever your sense of style, from sleek and chic to cozy and country,you mix and match your choice  of papers,fabrics, colors and themes to create your own personalized look without hiring an expensive decorator.To create these striking wall art panels,cover three,12'x36"x1 sheets of Styrofoam brand foam with wallpaper.A thick white craft glue,spread on the reverse side of the wall paper,holds it in place.Add ribbons around the edges to finish the art.Create additional panels for more drama,or try hanging them horizontally instead of vertically.Depending on the length and pattern,one roll of wall paper can make  up to ten wall art panels.you can sell or gift them too.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Organize Your Kitchen Pantry

It's one of the highest-traffic spots in your house. It's no wonder you cringe each time you open your pantry to reach for an ingredient. Make cleaning and organizing  kitchen workhorse a priority. The good news is that it can be a fast, relatively painless job if you take small, manageable steps.
Clean First and Organize Second
Here's how to clear the way. Begin by throwing things out. It feels great and alleviates a big part of the task. Start by grouping items in one of two piles. The first pile? Items to throw out - including products that are past their expiration dates, stale, or have been crushed.  These items are no longer safe for your family to consume. The second pile includes items you've not used in the last nine months.  If you haven't needed that Basmati rice in three-quarters of a year, you probably won't be reaching for it next week. If the food is still safe, donate it to your local food bank.
1: Make Every Inch Count The secret to an easy-to-use pantry is visibility. You should be able to see everything you have. Remove smaller items (such as spice bottles or small cans) and place them in a basket or in a door rack. Adding a riser shelf or Lazy Susan will double your pantry space and help you find things quicker. You can find great storage options at the Container Store.
2:  Embrace FIFO
FIFO is the accounting term for ‘First In First Out' and it's a great idea not only for figures. When it comes to your pantry, place newer items in the back and use up older items first. You're less inclined to let good things go bad.  It's also a good idea to keep a pad of paper and pen inside your pantry door. Simply jot down items that need replenishing. The next time you go to the store, your list will be right there.
3:  Organize For You
No two families or pantries are alike. When arranging yours, think about what will work for your hungry crew. This may be stocking items by type (e.g. bottles, cans, bags), by family members (you, your kids, pets), or by their purpose (e.g. snacks, sweets, ingredients).  There is no right answer.  Just find the way that works for you.