Organization and Storage Ideas for Small Spaces

Clear your clutter and get more organized this month. Having a more organized home can give you and your family a clear mind and a productive household. Let’s face it, we all deal with clutter and excess things lying around our rooms. That’s ok, we’re only human; but if there is a smarter way to keep that clutter to look more transparent we should take advantage of it. Adding more storage solutions in your small rooms will make will help give off that clean, calm and relaxed feel. You may not know where to start and storage in small spaces can become complicated; but with these next few tips you may find some relief.

For your clutter in that small guest room, the more storage solutions you can find, the cleaner and calmer your rooms will feel. Install small rectangular or cubed shelf units for an open storage look. Having shelfs can keep a lot of that mess off the floor which will give your room more valuable space that will give it a resh look. Instead of shelves on your wall, you can add a narrow nook with narrow shelves which will give your room even more space for storage of books and nick-nags. Adding a light over the open spaces can really add to the aesthetic aspect of the room; creating a warm, spotless feel.

Who would think your doors could be a platform for storage? Your doors are a hotspot for cleanliness in any small room. Adding a tall, adjustable shelf rod that can hold wire baskets or a plastic or metal pre-assembled door rack is perfect for your kitchen, your bathroom or any of your bedrooms. Before you add these storage racks make sure your door is clear and has enough room to be able to close shut.

Another great product that your can store behind any door in your house would be a peg board. With a modern peg board, you may be able to avoid the whole “dressdown” door. You can become more creative with hanging a peg board to your small room door. You can add fancy hooks and slots for things like your craft supplies, totes, scarfs and a white board. Creativity and design with back door units are endless and may just be what your small disorderly room needs.

Your bedroom or your child’s bedroom seems like it can never be fully organized and clean right? Well, the ultimate “Storage Bed” is something brilliant that may change your entire outlook on organization in small spaces. Think about switching your regular bed to a storage bed. These ensembles come in several different styles and designs that you can easily purchase one that will correspond to your rooms decor. They are perfect for storage because the storage area is attached right to the bedframe and can hold a overabundance of things.

For the typical busy home that doesn’t have the exact ideal space for all your things, rolling carts can be a great way to organize. Rolling carts are small and can easily be moved out of the way when not in use. You can put small storage bins stacked on top of each other which will save you space in any room.

Guest Bedroom Ideas

Overwhelmed with your in-laws coming to stay for a few weeks? Breathe and stay calm with these guest bedroom ideas. Keep them comfortable and cozy in the guest room by renovating your extra room. First and foremost, clean and declutter the area, if not done already. This is a basic tool but at the same time it is the most important. Unexpected guests may tell you the week before that they are coming to stay. Gather some storage bins and get rid of any junk laying around. Clean your pillows, bedding, and any extra blankets to perfection.

Scrubbing the side table and walls will help the room glisten that much more. Keeping most personal items out of the room is essential; this will give your guests a clean and fresh stay with open space. Remember that bedding can lose its fresh smell hidden in a linen closet for months and sometimes years. Be sure to thoroughly wash all items flawlessly and assure the bedding is set up cohesively. White sheets, quilts and blankets are a good idea to brighten up your guest room and they are easy to bleach to look like new.

Accent pillows are a wonderful way to liven up any guest room; making your guest feel more at home. You can buy a medium to large craft-like basket and place it at the bottom of the bed and fill it with colorful pillows which will accent the white bedding.

Lighting near the bed is an absolute must for any guest room. It doesn’t matter if you have overhead lighting, a nice small light on a side table is an essential. Many of your guests may like to read or look over receipts or bills before they go to bed. Do not use a harsh bright light for the side table; go with a medium to low light bulb to give the relaxed effect all while giving sufficient light to see. On that important side table, next to your lamp you can add a clock. Choose a modern or antique clock for whatever design and style you are going for in the room. Even though most of us don’t need a traditional clock since we all have our smart phones, some people may appreciate the essence of falling asleep or waking up to a large, more visually appealing, clock next to them.

Lastly, by adding personal embellishments like flowers, bright green weeds and small baby cacti, you can give your guest room a night feeling out being outside while inside. Also, making a small goodie basket for your guest to leave with is a nice gesture. Putting a basket filled with chocolate candies, smoked almonds and nuts, granola bars and some small-sized water bottles is a wonderful way to make your vistors stay more satisfying.

Add Window Treatments for an Elegant Touch

Custom window treatments add the finishing touch to a well-designed interior home décor. Treated windows are extremely versatile. They can create a seamless backdrop or become the focal point of a room. High quality window treatments are a worthwhile investment.

Consulting a window professional will ensure you find the perfect solution for each room in your home. Today’s window treatments come in an endless variety of styles and materials. Plantation window shutters offer a traditional, clean look while fabric draperies create an elegant appearance. Shades and valances are simple treatments that can dramatically change the look of a room too. Trust an expert’s knowledge in choosing the best unique window options for your family’s home.

Each space requires consideration of a few items. First, consider function. How will the room be used? What type of outdoor exposure will the window receive? Next, calculate height and depth. Which types of treatments might work best in the space? And finally, think of how the treatments will complement the room’s furnishings, style, and mood. Will the treatments seamlessly coordinate with the overall home design? Take these questions with you when planning. 

Window treatments are a valuable investment in many ways. They can protect furniture and floors from sunlight exposure. Many window treatments offer complete UV protection, eliminating harmful light that can damage your home’s interior. They also increase energy efficiency year round. With the proper choices and installation, less heat will escape in colder months and sunshine can be blocked in warmer months. Privacy is another advantage of treated windows. They are a simple, additional layer to securing your home that is often overlooked. Draperies, blinds, and shutters can block outside noise as well. Use them to create a quiet, darkened bedroom for a perfect night’s sleep. Each room in a home can benefit from carefully chosen window treatments.

When choosing a window treatment expert, look for one with many years of experience. They should have a diverse portfolio of quality work that demonstrates mastery of both window design and functionality across a wide range of spaces and home remodeling projects. Hire someone who strives to understand your needs and works with you to create a vision for each room of your home. A competent window treatment expert will be able to handle all the details including fit, style, material choice and installation. Use a professional’s knowledge to update your existing home decor or create an entirely new look for any room. 

For your window treatment needs, depend on Elite Draperies and Blinds. Elite has been the industry leader more than two decades, and they are the premier choice for all of your window treatment design and installation needs. Elite takes pride in caring for customers, and is able to accommodate your busy schedule or unique needs. For a free, in-home consultation call 610-459-0679 today to schedule. Also, visit them online at Elite-Draperies.com to view their impressive portfolio and learn more.

Open Your Home with Windows

Looking for a way to make your home feel more open or to look larger? The solution may be as simple as window installation. Most likely there are several diverse types of windows that make up the structure of your house. Windows can allow more natural light to flood your home during the day; all while adding fresh, healthy air circulation. 

By customizing nearly any window to suit your homes design and style you may just create more of an open feel to some areas in your home that may be missing that factor.

Financially, this can be challenging to budget out since your home’s measurements and requirements differ from the next person. Speaking with a professional before you begin the process of any type of window installation or renovation would be ideal to get a ballpark range of how costly it will be.A floor-to-ceiling wall window may be too revealing for some, but in some cases your view is just too stunning to be disturbed by a solid dingy concrete wall. 

Ideally, if your backyard or side yard is filled with beautiful landscaping
functions, a serene garden, a big swimming pool or a body of water like a lake or a beach, the aesthetics of the scenery will be heightened with your window. As you flood your interior fixtures, floors and walls with natural light, you’re providing more space to the eye, whether you have a huge home or a small home.

Casement windows are hinged windows that are contolled by a turn of a rod-like operating mechanism. They can be hinged on the right or left to open outward giving your business room or living room the fresh air and feel of a larger room.

Double-hung windows are a great idea for a small kitchen. This type of window has two bands that slide vertically up and down in the frame. They can open from either the bottom or the top. When opening the window, they remain inside the original frame which prevents an overhang out to the exterior of the house. 

Picture and Awning windows provide the most sufficient light that window can give off. Picture windows are large immobile openings that let in the maximum amount of light and views, if that is what you’re looking for. A great addition to the picture window would be installing an awning window below, above or alongside an operating or stationary window.

Awning windows open outward to let air in from the bottom, right or left areas and are hinged at the top of the structure. There are plenty of various types of windows out there that may just fit your style. Think before you do. 

Consider your household budget that would correspond with the specific home areas window installation. The benefits of opening up your home to the outside are endless and could be just what your need for your home this season.

How to Have Happy Houseplants

Are your houseplants sad, droopy, or dare we say it, dead? Have they unwillingly become the hot spot for a spider mite house party? Don’t worry, it probably wasn’t your fault. One day the houseplants seemed fine and the next, well, they were sad plants.You can make your houseplants happy again. 

It is time to shed the “brown thumb” moniker and embrace your green potential. Hosting healthy houseplants is all just a matter of knowing their basic needs and then meeting them on a consistent basis. This includes protecting them from pests and over enthusiastic owners. 

Get to Know Your Houseplants

Just as in any relationship, the first step in making a houseplant happy is to really get to know it. While all plants have similar needs (light, water and food), different types of plants require different amounts of each of these things to help them survive and thrive. 

Have any of your houseplants been the victim of mistaken identity? Similar-looking houseplants may have different needs. Find out the specific names and varieties of your houseplants, so you can research their ideal conditions. 

Every relationship requires some effort, but if you are willing to make the investment, your plants can be with you for a long time. Eventually, you will learn what works for your particular greenies; giving them proper care will then be easy and routine.When it comes to houseplants, it is a “which comes first” decision.

 Do you choose houseplants based on your home conditions or adapt your home conditions to suit the houseplants that you love? Both can be done, but if you are starting from scratch, is easiest to choose houseplants that will thrive on the amount of light and humidity that is normal for your home. That is not to say that some temperamental, but beautiful, houseplants might not be worth the compromise. 

Seeing the Light

While houseplants love their natural light, many will also thrive in artificial light as well. First, determine how much natural light is present in your home, and use this knowledge to help make your houseplants happy. 

You may need a compass to discover window direction. Most smart phones contain a built in compass that can help you discover your home’s orientation, and the sun exposure for each window.

Houseplants that are spindly and thin, and flowering plants that don’t bud or bloom may be unhappy with the amount of light they are receiving.You will need to get them more light. Conversely, if your plants look faded and ghost-like, they are trying to tell you, “enough with the light.”

 Move plants away from the direct light source to reduce the exposure and make them happy.  (Secondary fading can also be caused by too little water or not enough fertilizer.Natural light is sunlight. Your houseplants should come with details about the amount of natural light they need to thrive. Conduct Internet research or ask a garden center, if you aren’t sure of your plant's sunlight requirements.  

Meanwhile, here is a general guide to natural light exposure. 

• Full Sun: A window with south exposure lets in the most light, and this is considered full sun.
• Medium or Bright Indirect: East and west facing windows allow a moderate or average amount of light into a room. 
• Low Light or Indirect Light: Northern windows let in the least amount of natural light. 

In addition to window orientation, there are other factors in and around your home that may contribute to the amount of natural light available to your houseplants. Trees, bushes and awnings can block natural light and reduce the amount that actually reaches houseplants. 

Natural sunlight may increase when it is reflected off snow or light colored buildings near your home. How close a houseplant is near a window will also determine how much natural sunlight it receives, even if the entire room appears to be equally bright to human eyes. If you are unsure of how much natural light your houseplants may be receiving, conduct the shadow test.

Place an object near your houseplant, or in any location of your home where houseplants live. Next, check the shadow. The darker and more intense the shadow, the more light that is reaching that spot. This is an easy check that can be conducted at any time of year, as long as the sun is up; it will allow you to check for varying light conditions.  

Artificial Light

If you are sadly lacking in natural light, you can still keep your houseplants happy. Just employ the use of artificial light, as a supplement, or as a full light source for your plant, if needed. 

Many houseplants are perfectly happy with artificial light. Grow lights are the most effective artificial light sources for houseplants. Generally composed of fluorescent tubes, grow lights for plants may need to be lit for up to 16 hours a day, depending on how light challenged your location happens to be. 

Some houseplants are natural light “snobs” and do poorly with artificial light. Flowering plants in particular may protest a lack of natural light by refusing to bud or bloom for you. You may need to experiment with different brands of grow lights to find the ones that make your particular plants happiest. 

Water Me

Do you wonder if plants sit around telling horror stories of the plant that was forced to go weeks without water until it was a dried up husk? It would be a common household story. Improper watering can have devastating consequences to houseplants, and this includes over watering, inconsistent watering, and over watering. 

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is to respond to a droopy or wilted plant by watering more often. Often the root of the problem is a sickness causes by the roots being too wet. The roots begin to decay (root rot).

 Sometimes just allowing the soil to dry out and then watering carefully will give the plant time to recover. Sometimes the plant is too far gone to survive. Either way, giving the houseplant more water will only seal its fate. 

Outside of providing your plants with the right lighting conditions, learning how to water your plants may be the single most important thing you can do to foster healthy greenery.  Here are some general tips on watering plants.

• Always check the soil before watering. Changes in light, humidity, temperature and plant growth can affect the amount of water a plant needs on a given day. Lifting the pot can also tell you how much water is needed. 
• Water slowly. Watering too quickly or giving your plants too much water at one time can cause the water to simply run off and not be available to the plant.
• Focus on the roots when watering. Applying water to the leaves doesn’t usually do any good, and can actually promote disease.
• Water in the morning. Establishing a morning routine can help you remember to water your plants, plus if you accidentally get water on the leaves, they will have time to dry out with the help of the day’s light and heat. 
• Remove any excess water that drains away into the pot’s saucer. This should be done within the hour of the initial watering. 
• Remember that houseplants often need more water in the winter because of home heating conditions. 
• Plastic pots retain more water, while unglazed clay pots dry out faster.
• Plants that are too large for their pots will require more water.
• Plants that are too small for their pots will have a hard time getting to all of the water in their potting soil and may appear to be over watered.
• Municipal tap water may contain chemicals that are harmful to houseplants. To counteract this, use bottled water, or set tap water out in a container for a day, to allow any chemicals to evaporate before watering. 
• If your home has a water softener, the salts in the system can damage roots. Collect water from outdoor natural sources or use bottled water. 
• If you choose a to use a self watering system, monitor your plants carefully for the first few weeks and make adjustments as needed. 

Banishing Pests

Oh, creepy crawlies on houseplants are enough for some homeowners to ditch the plants entirely, but remember, you now have a solid relationship with your houseplants; friends don’t toss friends because of a few bugs. 

The biggest problem with plant pests is that they can quickly spread.  Regularly inspect leaves and wash them every few weeks. 

Dust and grime not only attracts pests, but it can also clog pores on leaves, making it difficult for the plant to “breathe.”  Insecticidal soap for plants is available in spray form. 

Here is some helpful information to prevent and treat for plant pests.

• Always check new plants for insects before you bring them home, otherwise you may wind up with an infestation. 
• Take the extra precaution of isolating any newcomers to your houseplant community for a couple of weeks, just to be sure. 
• Avoid dusting your plants with a duster. Bugs and their eggs can hitchhike from home plant to the next. 
• When bringing a plant in from the outside, pull the plant out of the pot and inspect the soil. Bugs may have crawled in through the drainage holes.
• Use a magnifying glass to check the undersides of leaves to catch pests in their earliest stages when it is easiest to get rid of them. 
• If you choose to use an insecticide, make sure that it is approved for use indoors and on houseplants. 
• Common houseplant pests include aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, fungus gnats, pillbugs, millipedes, slugs, scales, and whiteflies. 
• Healthy and vigorous plants are more likely to be resistant to pests.

Feed Me

Homeowners who regularly fertilize their lawns and gardens often don’t recognize the need to feed indoor plants. Is this you? All plants need certain nutrients to thrive. In an outdoor environment, plants fend for themselves, sending out long roots to gather the food they need. Isolated indoors in pots, they are at your mercy for their food. 

Regular feedings of these plant nutrients will make your plants happy:

• Nitrogen (N) helps promote good foliage.
• Phosphorous (P) helps promote root growth.
• Potassium (K) helps promote blooming in flowering plants. 

Fertilizer packaging lists the amounts of these three nutrients, as percentages, in the order of N, P, K. A listing of 10-10-10 means there is 10 percent of each of these chemicals, with the remaining 70 percent of material being inert additives. 

Fertilizer is available in both organic or synthetic form, and both appear to be equally effective for your plants, although organic fertilizer works by breaking down slowly, and it will take longer to act. Synthetic fertilizer is available as powder or in time release capsules. 

There are specialty fertilizers for specific plants. For example, azaleas prefer an acid fertilizer with a low pH. Read the labels carefully, so you know exactly what you are getting. 

There are at least four different ways to apply fertilizer to your houseplants. 

• Mix the powder directly into the soil.
• Place time release capsules into the soil.
• Use water to dilute the powder or time release capsules and pour measured doses into the soil.
• Use a spray fertilizer directly onto the leaves of the plant.

Research the needs of your specific houseplants to know which form of delivery will make your plants happiest. 

Tips for using fertilizer:

• Thoroughly moisten the soil. 
• Be conservative in your use. Too much fertilizer can burn the roots and kill the plant
• Feed plants during active growing phases, generally in the spring and the summer seasons. 

The Five Best Ways to Prevent Bed Bugs so You Can Sleep Easier

According to the 2015 Bedbugs Without Borders survey, produced by the NPMA and the University of Kentucky, bedbugs are "found seemingly everywhere" and in higher numbers and in more places than ever before, from day care centers to college dorms.

Even the cleanest of homes could become subject to bedbugs if the home owners aren’t careful. They are present in all fifty states.

What makes things worse, is that bedbugs are difficult to remove from a home once they are present. They hide in the most unusual places and don’t respond to standard methods of pest removal, so the best thing anyone can do is to try to prevent them from entering the home first. An infestation can be both uncomfortable and expensive, with the going rate for extermination in the $1,200 range. 

Check The Environment

Bedbugs can hitch a ride home on clothing, suitcases, wood furniture and more. If you are in a room with bedbugs, chances are they will find a way to invite themselves to your house. Checking your environment for the critters is the first step. Do a basic inspection of your hotel room, visually inspecting the headboard, mattress, box spring and pulling back the sheets. You may spot the begs themselves or little brown spots that indicate their waste. 

Unpack Outside

After a trip, unpack your suitcase in the garage and put them through a hot wash or regular wash with a warm or hot dry cycle. If you suspect a suitcase or bag to have possible contamination, seal it up, air tight in a bag, and let it sit for two or more weeks. 

Cover and Protect

Since one of the favorite places for bedbugs to hang out is the mattresses (the better to crawl out at night and bite their victims), protecting the mattress and box spring with encasements so they can’t get in. You can also purchase a device that prevents bedbugs from climbing up to the bed from the floor. While these steps won’t prevent bedbugs from getting into your home, they will keep you safe from nighttime bites and make the issue easier to remedy.

Be Careful with Second Hand Furniture

While most people wouldn’t think twice about not picking up a used mattress, the real danger might be the cute chair left on the curb, the great stool you found on Craigslist or the set of pretty wooden frames from the Goodwill. Bedbugs have been known to hide in almost any porous surface or crevice they can find, from a roll of wallpaper to a jewelry box. Be wary of used items and inspect them thoroughly before bringing them home. 

Act Quickly

Most bedbug infestations start out with just a few bugs, so if you can get on top of the "beasties," you can prevent an invasion. Regularly clean and inspect your home. Use a flashlight at night to check in, around and under under the bed, behind the headboard and behind picture frames and furniture. If you spot what you think is a bedbug, snag it with a piece of clear tape and call an exterminator immediately. If bedbugs are confirmed, quick treatment is crucial. Don’t try to tackle it by yourself, because you may inadvertently spread the bugs. 

How to Make Your House Practically Clean Itself so You Don’t Have to

If you want to know how to have a house that practically cleans itself, read on. Small changes will make maintaining your home easier, allowing you the extra time you need to do the things you love to do. Banish the dust bunnies and get the clutter under control with lifestyle changes that make it easy to have rooms that are permanently clean. 

Fake It Until You Make It

Stand at the front door (or the entrance of a room) and look inside. What immediately catches your eye? If the sight line of a room looks clean, the whole room will give that impression. Take a look at those areas and see if you can rearrange things or change the way you do things to keep the sight line uncluttered. For example, don’t put the mail smack dab on the fist surface you see when you walk in the door. Place it where you wouldn’t notice it at first. 

Choose Things That Keep Themselves Clean

I very seldom buy clothes that are dry clean only, because I don’t want the time or expense of taking them to the dry cleaners. I’ve adapted this strategy to my home decor, choosing items that practically keep themselves clean. Dust can be removed from a flat, painted table in a few seconds, using a chamois cloth stored in one of its drawers. In contrast, an ornate wooden table with intricate scroll work requires getting out different kinds of supplies, such as polishing oil, multiple clothes and brushes to get dust out of the crevices, and then spending time each week keeping it clean. 

Be a Chunky Monkey

There is a reason successful organizing gurus, such as Peter Walsh and the FlyLady advocate housekeeping in 15 minute chunks. Separating necessary tasks out into small bits of time gets the job done without you really noticing the work. Find ways to get cleaning tasks for a few minutes when you can. For example, while you are brewing your coffee or waiting for water to boil, you can spray and wipe down a kitchen countertop or toss away some junk mail.