Clutter equals stress, plain and simple.
Messy rooms, disorganized closets, and
jumbled junk drawers add unneeded hassle to our already hectic days. I can't
think when things are cluttered! So I've learned a few tricks to control the
clutter. I sort and toss the stuff I don't need or want, and I keep the
necessities of life tucked away, out of site but easily accessible.
Even small homes have space for storage.
Under the bed, at the back of a closet, under the sink -- all these spaces can
be used to hold out-of-season clothes, toys, sports equipment, and unsightly
trash bins. That's right, even putting the kitchen trash bin under the sink
and on a convenient roll-out trolley, instead of having it out, in plain
sight, reduces both visual and floor space clutter.
Donating useful but no longer needed items, getting rid of
unwanted junk, and
keeping what we do need neat, accessible, and as invisible as
possible let our personal spaces become welcoming havens
instead of uninviting areas that make you want to run away.
In an ideal world, every room of your house should be neat as
a pin and organized alphabetically. But we know that's pretty
much impossible. After all, we do have to live our lives, and
making a mess is sometimes part of it. But the storage solutions
in this section can help you keep your stuff restrained.
Simple shelves, for instance, are one of the most basic and
useful forms of storage.
Tucked into the back of a closet, at the end of a little used
hallway, or in the corner of a child's bedroom, they provide
an easy, classic clutter solution. They can hold decorative
bins, boxes, and baskets for all the stuff you need but don't
want to look at. Or hang a curtain in front of them for
complete coverage but easy access. Once you see how easy
shelves are to install, you'll find all sorts of places for
them.
Basic shelves are easy and inexpensive to
construct using wood, plywood, or fiberboard cut to specific lengths and
widths and hanging them from metal shelving standards (long metal strips that
hold brackets) and arm brackets. For a less utilitarian took, you can attach
shelves to decorative brackets. Consider saving time and skipping the cutting
and sanding steps by taking your measurements to the lumberyard or home
improvement store and having them cut the wood to your specifications. It
costs a little extra for the cuts, but it may be worth it if you are short on
time and tools.
Basic shelves can be made from a variety of
materials. If the shelves are going in a closet or utility area (such as a
laundry or mudroom), 3/4-inch plywood or pine shelves can be sanded smooth and
then left as is. Plywood sheets are less costly than solid wood boards. Keep
in mind that plywood does not normally come in shelf-width planks, but in 4-
by 8-foot sheets, which need to be cut or "ripped" into shelf width. Unless
you have a circular saw and know how to use it, you will have to have plywood
sheets cut into shelves at the home center or lumberyard when you purchase the
sheets. For a finished look, you can add veneer tape to the front and sides of
plywood shelves. It's easy to apply with an iron because it is coated with a
heat-activated adhesive.
If you are planning on making the shelves a
prominent feature of a room, you can paint or stain them to match your color
and design scheme. For a high-end look, sheets of plywood veneer (plywood
covered with birch, mahogany, cherry, or even oak sheathing) can be cut to
size and coated with polyurethane for a natural finished look, stained, or
even painted. And, of course, you can buy hardwood boards, such oak, or
cherry, but these woods are expensive. Plywood veneer gives you the same look
for a lot less. You can also buy melamine-coated particleboard (usually
available already cut in a variety of standard widths and lengths) if you want
an easy-to-clean surface.
Reprinted from:
Room for Improvement: Change Your Home!
Enhance Your Life! With Tools, Tips, and Inspiration from Barbara K!
by Barbara Kavovit (a.k.a Barbara K) (May 2005; $24.95US/$35.95CAN;
1-59486-133-1) Copyright © 2005 Barbara Kavovit. Permission granted by Rodale,
Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the
publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at
www.rodalestore.com
