Shop Target Dorm Room Finds Here!
Transitioning from life at home to life in the dorm is a huge change. As a mom, I know you want to set your kid up for success the best you can. that’s why when I was at Target and spotted some dorm room essentials, I knew I wanted to show you. This is their first place alone, but you can still make it feel like home! Here are some of my top picks…
A desk lamp is a must – especially if you have a roommate. It’s the best for studying late at night and keeps the light focused in one area. I own this Task Table Lamp and it’s lasted for years! You won’t believe the price either. Grab it for ONLY $8!
This is a great elevated option! The dorm room is small, so compacting anything you can is a must. I found this Organizer Task Lamp that combines light with a space for your pencils, mail, and phone. Get it for just $16!
You will need a new bedspread too! I love plain bedspreads to accent with pillows and blankets. Grab this Garment Washed Microfiber Quilt for just $25 in so many colors! You can’t beat that price!!!
This is one of my favorite colors it comes in! So feminine but still light and airy to open up a small space! Buy the Garment Washed Microfiber Quilt for $25 too!
Even though most dorms don’t have a kitchen, having a couple cups and bowls on hands is a necessity. These are the PERFECT option because they are unbreakable, cheap, and come in youthful, fun colors. Grab a few 10.5″ Plastic Dinner Plates, 37oz Plastic Cereal Bowl Polypro, and 26oz Plastic Tall Tumblers for $0.50 each! You will not beat that.
Coffee is a MUST. They won’t know how much they appreciate it until they’re are up till 4am at a late night cramming session. This mini size is the best option for the dorm, PLUS it’s on sale! Grab the Keurig K-Mini Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker for $59.99 (was $90). Don’t miss this deal!
Increase storage with this Tall Sliding Bin Cube. Whether it’s in the bathroom, living space, or washroom, this will organize your items and slide out for easy access. Get it for $80 now!
Don’t miss out on all of these Target Dorm Room Finds! Start crossing items off the list today!
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]]>Decluttering your house can pay off — in both a higher sales price and fewer days on the market. Top real estate agent Michael Russo, who sells homes 57% faster than the average agent in Warwick, Rhode Island, says a home “will definitely sell quicker and for a higher price if the house is decluttered and looking good.”
But where to start? We’ll guide you through how to declutter a house to sell.
If you’re starting to prepare your home for sale, hiring a great real estate agent is an important step to take. HomeLight data shows that top-performing agents sell homes faster and for more money than average agents.
Does decluttering and cleaning a house before selling really make a difference? Warwick says yes!
“When potential buyers are touring the house, they can better envision themselves and their possessions living there — their furniture, their belongings — which will enhance their interest and their offer amount,” he says.
One survey by Consumer Reports suggests that, as a home seller, you could see 3%-5% higher proceeds simply by decluttering and depersonalizing the space inside your home.
Here’s a list of decluttering benefits for home sellers:
If you’re overwhelmed and unsure where to start, take it room by room and try the “timer trick.” This method, favored by productivity and organization bloggers, gives you a structured chunk of time to focus solely on cleaning. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and devote the time to one step of the cleaning process. After all, anyone can do anything for 15 minutes, right? Repeat until your house is clutter-free.
Follow this 10-space checklist, and your home will be ready to sell in no time.
First impressions matter, so start at the front door. Remove and pack away out-of-season coats still hanging on the coat rack, multiple pairs of shoes, hats and gloves, and your dog’s leash. Get rid of the pile of mail and old cards sitting by the front door.
Professional organizer Andrew Mellen says that “Greeting cards with nothing more than a scribble in them have done their job — someone was thinking of you at a particular time and let you know it,” he says. “If they haven’t written anything significant, the moment has passed, and you can let go.” Sorting through some messes can take a considerable amount of time, and you might still need the dog’s leash within easy reach, so if you’re stuck here, place items in attractive storage boxes or baskets and hide them away.
If you’re pressed for time, Russo picked the kitchen and bath as the two most important rooms to declutter. “Remove all items from countertops, from on top of fridges, magnets on the front — make it look like nobody lives there,” he advises.
Toss out old, expired food, starting with the fridge and freezer and moving onto the cabinets and pantry. Throw away anything gross or mysterious. Budget 15 minutes per shelf, including time wiping down cabinet fronts and cleaning old spills.
While you’re throwing out expired foodstuffs, take a hard look at your pots and pans collection. Consider tossing any infrequently-used cooking tool, pot, pan, dish, or glass into a donation box. Tuck appliances into newly freed-up space in your cabinets, and consider bringing the toaster out for the five minutes a day that you use it.
Old magazines in the rack beside the couch, books you haven’t read in years piled haphazardly on shelves, and that old armchair with the stuffing bursting from the arms — take a hard look at your living room when it’s time to get a house ready to sell. All of these will distract from the room’s appeal.
How important is the living room? The National Association of Realtors 2023 Profile of Home Staging found that staging the living room was most important for buyers.
Start by clearing out everything that belongs in the trash or recycling bin — including old magazines or a broken lamp. If items from around the house have landed in the living room, sort them into bins color-coded by family members. Then, move them to their respective rooms.
And pack away personal photos and mementos — buyers have a hard time envisioning themselves living in a home if it’s your kid’s pictures hanging on the walls. You really need only one sofa and an accent table to indicate how to use the space. “A lot of times, we see that people just have too much furniture in the room for the size that it is,” Jeremy Kahler, a top real estate agent serving Rapid City, South Dakota, says. “Emptying that out helps it feel like a bigger area.”
In your bedroom, you want buyers to see that their bed, nightstands, and dressers will fit in the space. Making your own furniture visible can help. Clear off the bed so you’ll have somewhere to set laundry baskets, etc., while you clean. Tidy up books, tissues, and old glasses from the nightstand. Move under-bed storage out to the garage.
Sort through your clothes and donate items you haven’t worn in years. Create space in your closet, and make sure closet doors can open and shut easily. Buyers will be poking their noses behind closed doors!
Be picky about sentimental items — like your prom dress or a concert t-shirt. Mellen recommends paying close attention to these moments — namely, “the story you tell yourself” when you’re assessing whether or not to keep an item. “The story you may be telling yourself about how exciting the hunt to find it was, or how much fun you had when you were drinking cocktails with your friends are all good stories,” he says. “They just might not need to be stories you’re still telling yourself.”
In other words, if you’re holding onto an item for fear of losing a memory, let it go and trust yourself to remember the good.
According to Russo, “kitchens and baths sell houses.”
If you’re short on time, prioritize these rooms. In the bathroom, “remove all personal effects from showers, bathtubs, and vanity tops,” he says. Throw out half-empty bottles of shampoo and fold and hang up towels.
Russo says that before the pandemic, home offices weren’t as popular and could be smaller. But post-pandemic, people are still working remotely and prioritize them higher on their list. Clear away scraps of paper and books, but don’t think you have to get rid of everything.
“When it comes to decluttering, it’s okay to have your computer, your bookshelf, that shows that it’s functional and usable,” Russo says. “But you really want to keep it minimal, organized, and looking good.”
It can be hard for kids to let go of beloved toys, but now is the time to weed out broken cars and playsets, stuffed animals that are less “stuffed” than split open, and toys they’ve outgrown. Take kids’ art down from the walls and consider repainting the dark black walls your teenager begged for. Homelight’s Top Agent Insights for Fall 2022 surveyed over 1,000 top agents nationwide, and 78% of them recommended that sellers paint tired rooms.
It’s easy for the windowsills to become a catch-all storage place for keys, paperwork, discarded gloves, and more. But cleaning them off allows your windows to shine (particularly if you’ve got a great view), lets in more light, and opens up the space. If shoes are piled in the hallways or on the stairs, clear them off. It should be easy for buyers to walk through your home.
If you’ve got the time, expand your decluttering beyond the house itself. Don’t worry if you’ve been using your garage as a place to store decluttered items. “You can put items in the garage if necessary, but organize them in a way where buyers can still see that, yes, you can actually put a car in here,” Russo says. The key is to organize tools, boxes, and the lawn mower so that buyers can see that the garage is usable.
Adding a firepit, lighting, or seating can spruce up a starter home — 14% of agents in the Homelight survey recommended it. And these fixes are often cheap and add a lot to curb appeal. A new layer of mulch, some fresh flowers, and buyers may overlook some of the yard’s flaws.
While you’re at it, put in some sweat equity. Trim dead branches off trees and bushes, plant new bushes to hide unsightly fixtures like an air conditioning unit, and rake up any dead leaves.
In a seller’s market, it’s easier to sell a house full of stuff. But, as many markets across the country have shifted, it’s more important to give your home every advantage. Removing clutter helps other professionals — all of whom are helping sell your house — do their job.
It’s easier for a photographer to navigate around the house and take the best pictures to highlight its features if they’re not tripping over or moving boxes of stuff. Stagers can come in and use an empty space.
And, as Kahler reminds us, “Neutralizing your space is important because buyers need to picture themselves and their family in the home.”
Maximalists may struggle to live in a minimal home, and it can be tough to stay on top of kids who want to haul all toys to play. So remember, “It’s for a short period of time,” Kahler says. “If you get the house ready and do it well, it’ll sell in a shorter amount of time so that you can basically make the move and get back to living and decorating it the way you want.”
Still not sure where to start decluttering? A top agent can walk through your home and give you a fresh perspective. They’ll point out where small tweaks can yield big rewards, and they’ll know what buyers in your market value. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing, trusted agent in your market who can help you declutter and sell fast. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.
Header Image Source: (Y-Boychenko / Depositphotos)
]]>“You get some sleep?” asks Austin, who drove from the airport to the jail around midnight.
“I was knocked out in that car,” Mateen replies; they’d waited outside the jail till 6 a.m.
“I know you was!” says Austin.
Austin lives in Kentucky but has come to Gulfport repeatedly to help Mateen, feeling a special kinship. It wasn’t too long ago that police in Louisville shot and killed one of Austin’s nieces, Breonna Taylor. “You just see somebody in pain, and you know the pain they’re going through,” Austin says. “You just want to embrace them and try to be there.”
Across the United States, the police fatally shoot more than 1,000 people every year, representing nearly 5 percent of all homicides—a higher death toll than from mass shootings. Some of these cases make national news, but most don’t. Even less attention is paid to the families left behind: thousands of people, disproportionately Black, Indigenous, and Latino, who must navigate not only their grief, but the stress of protests and the press, not to mention agonizing questions of how to seek accountability from the officers who killed their loved ones.
“It’s a different fight when you up against a system that was supposed to serve and protect you,” Austin says. “There’s not a handbook for tragic situations like this.” Police who kill often receive therapy, paid leave, and lawyers—much of it publicly funded—but there’s usually little to no government support for families. In that absence, Austin and her close friend Jacob Blake Sr., whose son was shot by a cop in Wisconsin, travel around the country supporting surviving family members by, as Blake puts it, “making yourself available to them any way they want.”
There’s another protest tomorrow, in front of the Family Dollar store, and they meet up later in the evening to plan for it, joined by a handful of other organizers. Mateen mentions she has a call in a few days with the Justice Department about her son’s case. Blake offers to join. “We’ll be at the Airbnb, you come over,” he suggests. Mateen nods with relief. “I don’t know what I’m gonna hear,” she tells me. “They want to look out for me.”
There’s stress and sadness in the room, but at times it also feels like a family reunion. On the couch, someone laughs and playfully slaps Mateen’s shoulder after she makes a funny comment. She chuckles as someone else impersonates an activist from out of town who seems more interested in building an Instagram following than helping her and her son. Austin, her auburn braids pulled up in a bun, hovers around the kitchen table as Mateen’s 20-year-old daughter, Amera, a scrunchy around her wrist, eats a plate of chicken and mashed potatoes. There’s a colorful king cake on the counter waiting to be devoured. Austin’s fiancé rubs her shoulders.
It’s a full house, something 42-year-old Austin craved after she lost Breonna in 2020—the same week her city went into lockdown for the pandemic. She laughs now with Mateen’s daughter. “I don’t want people to feel alone,” she told me earlier.
That desire for community has led her and Blake to build a network of mourning relatives who lean on each other after police violence. They call themselves Families United. “It’s a relatively new and beautiful way of organizing: having the families support each other,” says Melina Abdullah, who co-founded the first Black Lives Matter chapter, in Los Angeles in 2013, and who’s in the room now with Blake, Austin, and Mateen. Although police brutality has long beset communities of color, it’s only within the past decade, she says, that victims’ family members have teamed up like this on the front lines, offering each other the care that no one else can. Most racial justice activists “want to provide support,” she says, counting herself among them, but “we don’t know what it feels like to have your loved one stolen by the state.” As Austin puts it, “It’s a different kind of grief.”
Together, Austin and Blake hope to help families get the national attention they deserve without speaking over them: to listen to each person’s needs and be a sounding board as they navigate situations that often lack a clear path forward. “It’s so hard to find help—like, what’s the starting point? How do you know who’s trustworthy?” Austin says, reflecting on Breonna’s death. “Because if you don’t know, you don’t know. You don’t know at all.”
Early in the morning on March 13, 2020, Austin awoke to what looked like a flashlight in her eyes. “Mom, people been trying to call you!” her daughter said, pointing the brightly lit phone at Austin’s face. Eighty-three missed calls. Disoriented and groggy, Austin held it to her ear and heard her sister Tamika Palmer say something panicky she couldn’t quite make out, something that sounded like, “B, where you at? Bre’s dead.” Austin’s daughter screamed, and Austin, startled, threw the phone like it was a piece of burning coal.
“What did you just say? What’s going on?” Austin asked after dialing back.
“You need to get to the hospital now,” her sister said.
Okay, I’ll meet Breonna there, Austin told herself, not processing that her 26-year-old niece could really be dead. They’d talked on the phone the night before, before dinner. Maybe she went to a club afterward and something happened; she got caught in crossfire, Austin thought. Maybe she’s hurt.
Breonna was in some ways Austin’s mini-me. They were both aspiring nurses, and they loved to sing. When Bre was in kindergarten, she liked Austin’s purple braids and asked if she could get some coloring in her own—grinning widely as she flipped her purple hair the next day when she got off the school bus. Bre wasn’t the type of girl to get in trouble, working two jobs and saving up for a house. None of it made sense.
Austin drove toward the hospital, but then her sister called—Bre wasn’t there.
Confused, Austin drove to meet her sister at home. Bre wasn’t there either.
So she gathered her sister and all the other confused, crying people around her, and they drove to Bre’s apartment, where yellow security tape hung in the parking lot.
“She’s in there,” a police officer told them, gesturing to the building.
What the fuck does that mean? Austin thought.
Then the coroner pulled up, and it was clear. “I’m sorry for your loss…” he started to say, as Palmer let out a wail and collapsed. Another officer handed Austin a business card, instructing her to call for a police report in six to eight weeks. “That was it,” Austin recalls.
Palmer, sobbing on the ground, had a little more information: Her daughter’s boyfriend, Kenny Walker, had called her the night before, hysterically screaming that some men broke into their apartment and shot Bre.
After he hung up, without specifying who broke in or whether Bre had survived, Palmer assumed the worst but also hoped that she was wrong. Now the coroner had confirmed her fears, and making matters worse, it was starting to seem like the police weren’t being honest. Palmer recalled how, when she drove to the apartment right after Kenny’s call, an officer outside told her Bre was in the hospital, while she was actually bleeding out inside.
Soon, the family learned that the police arrested Kenny, and their confusion grew: Had he attacked Bre, as uncharacteristic as that seemed? Or was it burglars, like he’d suggested? It wasn’t until they got a lawyer two days later and went inside the apartment that they suspected something else entirely. The place looked like a war zone, with bullet holes through the patio, front door, and just about every wall, and a pool of blood at the end of the hallway.
In the coming weeks, through phone calls with Kenny, news reports, and police documents their lawyer subpoenaed, the family learned what really happened: Breonna had fallen asleep watching the movie Freedom Writers when, a little after midnight, seven plainclothes police barged through her front door with a battering ram. They were looking for drugs—her ex was a dealer. Kenny, thinking they were intruders, grabbed his gun and fired a single shot, and the officers returned with a barrage of bullets. As Breonna lay wounded, Kenny called 911, still not realizing it was the police who had attacked them. An officer would later admit to falsifying an affidavit to enter the unit; there were no drugs there.
If Breonna’s family had wanted to protest, they couldn’t. She died the same month Louisville’s mayor told residents to shelter in place. “The city was shutting down; like, just go in your house and be quiet,” Austin says. She struggled to find a church that would host a funeral and tried to stay strong for her siblings: Palmer was so anguished she could hardly talk. Their brother was recovering from a stroke, and their sister Tahasha Holloway was severely sick with Covid, as was an elderly relative who died that week. “I went into defensive mode,” Austin remembers. “Like, ‘I can’t allow myself to be weak right now, I don’t want to cry right now.’” She spent hours hunched over a laptop, telling people about the shooting and dispelling rumors that Breonna was involved with drugs. “Somebody had to be the level-headed one,” she says.
“B literally took charge,” Holloway, the oldest of the three sisters, says of Austin, the youngest. “She was our speaker.”
“But she couldn’t stop,” Holloway adds. “She had worked herself into a real-live frenzy. You had to kind of pull her to the side: ‘You need to go sit down.’”
For a month, Austin could not sleep at night, despite the pills her doctor prescribed. If she was lucky, she’d doze off for an hour during the day, but even then she had nightmares. The hospital where she worked was inundated with Covid cases that nobody knew how to treat, and she felt like she spent most shifts flipping dead bodies. “I go home and it’s tragedy. I go to work, it’s a catastrophe,” recalls Austin. “I was so overwhelmed.”
As Breonna’s story eventually went viral and the country learned her name, Austin was further demoralized: The media took misleading soundbites from her interviews. She felt like politicians and even some activists spoke about the killing to boost their own popularity.
And it seemed the cops would never face consequences for what they’d done to Breonna. That September, the state attorney general announced he would not press charges against the officers who shot her. Austin, devastated, organized a press conference with her family. “At this point, I’m just fed up…ready to crawl back in my hole,” she recalls. “I didn’t think I had the strength to keep going and deal with the politics behind fighting the police.”
Then she saw someone at the press conference, a Black man with a linebacker’s build and a face mask emblazoned with “Justice for Jacob.” Something about his eyes looked familiar; she thought she recognized him from TV. Ben Crump, her family’s attorney and a renowned civil rights lawyer, said he was Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the 29-year-old who’d been shot by police in Wisconsin a few weeks earlier. Austin felt sympathy, then surprise. “I’m like, ‘I was literally just watching your son get shot. You’re dealing with your own stuff—why are you here?’”
Jacob Blake Sr. had gotten a phone call the night before, alerting him to the press conference. He drove overnight to be there.
He’d been driving a lot lately. In August 2020, he was in his silver Hyundai sedan, heading to his favorite Thai restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lived, when someone texted him a video circulating online, of a white officer shooting his son Jacob Blake Jr. seven times. Blake Sr. immediately went home, packed his bags, and started toward Kenosha, the mountains, fields, and towns passing in a blur. “That was the longest drive of my life, because at that time I never looked at the video past the first shot,” he says. “So I don’t know how many times my son was shot, I don’t know if he’s alive, I don’t know what’s going on.” When he arrived, he found Blake Jr. paralyzed from the waist down, with gunshot wounds and damage to his stomach, kidney, and liver. Protests followed, and a 17-year-old civilian, Kyle Rittenhouse, went to one and shot three people, two fatally.
Blake Sr., a former college football player and bodyguard, is a big man with a booming voice, but he wears his emotions on his sleeve and is not afraid to cry. After his son’s shooting, he would wake up at 2 a.m. some days and weep. But his family and friends supported him, and he never felt alone.
She said, ‘You would do that for me?’ I said, ‘I’ll be there in the morning.’”
Then in September, Crump, who was also his family’s attorney, called and said Breonna Taylor’s mother needed help. Blake got on the phone with Palmer. “I said, ‘Baby, you sound so tired.’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah, we got this big press conference tomorrow and I don’t know what they’re gonna say.’ So I said, ‘I’ll tell you what: I’m gonna come and stand with you tomorrow, and I’m gonna let you draw off my energy.’ She said, ‘You would do that for me?’ I said, ‘I’ll be there in the morning.’”
“It was the first time another family member came down and stood in solidarity with us,” Austin says.
Afterward, Blake went with them to lunch and sat next to Austin. They quickly bonded. “He was the only one throwing out the F-bombs besides me,” she says with a laugh. “I was having a bad day, just kind of expressing myself and going off, and he was going off right along with me, telling me, ‘You okay to feel the way you feeling. Don’t bottle it up.’ It was a relief.”
Austin confided that she didn’t think she could trust anyone, that she was tired of officials and activists using her family’s story to bolster their campaigns, gain followers, or just get five minutes of fame. People were even selling T-shirts with Bre’s image; it felt like everybody was trying to profit. Blake “was like, you have to trust somebody,” Austin says, “and along with that, you can set boundaries.” Her shoulders relaxed, and after lunch they hugged and exchanged numbers. He called later that night to make sure the family was okay. And he invited them to a demonstration for his son the next month near Chicago, offering to pay for their hotel. “He makes you feel like he really do care about you, and he’s gonna ride for you,” says Holloway, Austin’s sister.
Blake’s family has a long history of activism: His late father, a reverend in Evanston, Illinois, had organized against redlining in the 1960s, participated in the march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, and even knew Martin Luther King Jr. Blake, 56, grew up playing with the Reverend Jesse Jackson’s children and once met then-Sen. Joe Biden while hanging out in the study of his dad’s friend, a state legislator. When he invited Austin to Chicago, “it was like a no-brainer,” she says. “How can I tell you no when you drove overnight to be there” for us?
They soon became close friends, surprised at how much they had in common. They’re both Aries, with birthdays six days apart, and they each have a young son, ages 10 and 14. They have similar personalities, too—leaders who love to take charge, but also introverts who need time alone. And of course, they were both grieving. “It’s a trauma bond,” Holloway says of their relationship. They talk on the phone so many times a day and spend so much time together that strangers often mistake them for a married couple.
In January 2021, they were invited to DC for Biden’s presidential inauguration, where they sat together in coveted seats near the stage. It felt like a Cinderella moment to Austin, who framed her ticket when she got home; she thought Breonna would have been proud. But on the drive back, Blake’s legs swelled, and by the time he arrived he couldn’t walk. He was soon hospitalized for congestive heart failure, and in the hospital he got infected with C. diff, an often fatal type of bacteria. Doctors said his chances of surviving were slim.
When his nurses told Austin he’d been intubated, she burst into tears. I can’t afford to lose him, she thought. It’ll break me.
Slowly, Blake recovered, relearning to walk. Austin, with her medical training, helped him manage his medications and take care of himself. “She’s everything to me: my nurse, my confidant, my little sister,” he says. “She keeps all the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted.”
As Austin grew closer to Blake, she thought about all the parents whose experiences of police brutality never made the news.
Some of them approached her as she traveled to protests for Breonna and George Floyd, whose May 2020 murder by Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests that brought more attention to Bre’s case. “It was a cry for help everywhere we went,” she says. “A family pulling us to the side, telling us about a tragedy that happened to them.”
These families were struggling to get help from local governments, which rarely prosecute police. They didn’t qualify for state victim funds, money that could help them cover therapy, burials, and other expenses, because officials didn’t see them as victims; deaths by law enforcement often aren’t considered crimes under state and federal laws. If relatives needed financial assistance, they had to sue the government for it, a stressful process that didn’t guarantee results.
Several years ago, a grieving uncle in Oakland, California, began an effort to organize families together after police violence. Cephus “Uncle Bobby X” Johnson, whose nephew Oscar Grant was killed by a transit cop in 2009, felt frustrated by the lack of resources. He wanted families to have more say in activist circles: At the time, says BLM’s Abdullah, a professor of Pan-African studies at California State University in Los Angeles, organizers rarely worked directly with impacted relatives—they were more focused on addressing systemic injustices than assisting individuals. That started changing in 2014, when Johnson co-launched Families United 4 Justice, a network that now consists of 200-plus families who gather for retreats and protests and to lobby for policy changes. Two years later, Hillary Clinton campaigned alongside Black mothers whose children were killed by police or gun violence, including Mike Brown and Eric Garner. The Mothers of the Movement, who became known for their oratory, took the stage at the Democratic National Convention. Some of them, like now-Rep. Lucy McBath, whose son was murdered by a white man at a gas station, went into politics.
It wasn’t inevitable that Austin would follow a similar path; she already felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities she’d taken on after police killed Breonna. But Blake encouraged her. “Sis,” Blake told her, “you don’t realize that when you speak, people listen.” With donations from the Reverend Al Sharpton and others, the two friends formed their group to help families—whether by showing up at funerals or protests, amplifying demands on Facebook, connecting people with lawyers, or just hanging out and letting them vent. “Some people will never get justice,” Austin says. They need “somebody to listen to their story and understand.” As the pair began their work, they learned about Uncle Bobby X’s group in California and realized they’d coincidentally chosen a similar name, though each outfit has a different vibe: While the former is especially known for its annual healing-centered retreats, Blake and Austin would gain a reputation for actions that are a little more in your face.
“We’re not asking for a goddamn place at any goddamn table!” Blake yelled into the megaphone at a recent protest. “We comin’ with the table and the chairs, and we set up the table!”
Blake’s “a firecracker,” says Holloway, Austin’s sister. “He’s so straight to the point.”
Austin, Blake, and others in their group stood beside George Floyd’s family when ex-officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of Floyd’s murder in December 2021, and they joined them in Houston, where Floyd grew up, to open a community center in his honor. After police killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in a Minnesota suburb, Austin became friends with Wright’s mother, even vacationing with her after attending the officer’s manslaughter trial. They both joined a group chat of other families coping with police violence, checking in with texts as simple as we love you, good morning, is everybody okay? Often, “it’s never any meat,” says Blake of the daily messages. “Sometimes a person just needs to know that you’re there.” More invitations came, not just from families who’d experienced police shootings, but from communities grieving other racist violence. Austin and Blake went to Buffalo, New York, after a white supremacist killed 10 Black people at a supermarket, and they marched with Ahmaud Arbery’s parents in Selma.
But they especially prioritized families whose loved ones’ deaths did not get as much media coverage: Cameron Lamb in Missouri. Fred Cox and Jason Walker in North Carolina. Andrew Joseph III in Florida. When police in Illinois killed 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette, whose mother is Blake’s distant relative by marriage, they attended the memorial and brainstormed ways to draw attention to his case, like a protest march on his birthday. Austin and Blake spread the word about these lesser-known killings while trying not to overshadow the families. “They were like a breath of fresh air,” says Lakeisha Nix, who met the pair after police in Delaware killed her brother, Lymond Moses.
Austin was close with her 26-year-old niece, Breonna Taylor. When Breonna was in kindergarten, she asked to dye her hair purple, like her aunt.Jon Cherry
Austin and Blake seemed genuine to Nix, who worried that other activists had ulterior motives, offering help in exchange for clout. She had reason to be skeptical: The massive outrage at Floyd’s murder in 2020 suddenly infused the police accountability movement with millions in donations, helping it grow, but also creating a profit incentive to approach families and use their stories. Previously, this activism hadn’t been lucrative—some organizers dipped into their own paychecks—so “families understood it’s costing us something, we’re not benefiting,” says BLM’s Abdullah. But soon, more families began to doubt activists’ motives, and a wedge grew—sometimes fueled by opponents of the police accountability movement who told grieving relatives to watch out for selfish organizers. “One family was told that every time we say her child’s name, we get royalties,” says Abdullah, “like it’s a record or something.”
Exploitative racial justice activists remain the exception, not the rule, she says, but they can drain families anyway. “The politicians and activists and some of the organizations are like vampires—they suck the energy out of a story and get the most they can get,” says Blake. It can make families feel like meat, like they only matter for clicks. “You’re not fighting for families; you’re fighting for attention,” he says.
In Mississippi, Mateen vents about the same problem. She tells Austin and Blake about some out-of-state activists who raised $100,000 around her son’s case, then came to town, splurged $12,000 on an Airbnb with a swimming pool and a lavish bar-and-game room, and did little to actually help her family—dropping off a “gift” for her surviving 9-year-old child that totally missed the mark. “A pair of socks? I mean, I can buy him socks,” Mateen says with frustration. “My [dead] son ain’t even got a tombstone.”
“They try to dictate how they wanna help you instead of helping with things you already have planned,” Austin says. As Blake did with her, Austin tries to guide Mateen through the complicated maze of choosing whom to trust.
The most important thing, Austin tells her, is for people to ask what the family needs. Each situation is different. “We standing behind y’all,” she says. “We not in front.”
The morning of the protest, Austin and Blake join Mateen in the Family Dollar parking lot as a few dozen people gather around them with handmade signs. Mateen stands with her back toward the store’s entrance, where a memorial sits in the sun: fake flowers, candles, and teddy bears faded from winter weather, along with sticky notes taped to the windows with messages like “He was only 15.” Another sign, posted by store management, seems more tone-deaf, urging shoppers to remove their hoodies before entering.
In October 2021, Mateen, who is 41 and Black, got a call from a friend who told her to get to the Family Dollar. “Jaheim’s been shot,” her friend said. Jaheim McMillan had been hanging out with friends. Police claimed they shot him in the head because he turned toward one of them with a gun. Some witnesses said he was unarmed and had his hands up, and that he bled out for minutes without medical care. Mateen raced to the store, parking across the street and running through traffic to her wounded child. An officer with a red beard grabbed her before she could reach Jaheim, and others surrounded her as she shouted that she needed to see him. “Shut up and calm down,” she recalls one telling her; she screamed as they handcuffed her.
Jaheim died two days later. It would be months before law enforcement released bodycam footage, which showed an officer firing eight shots at him as he tried to flee. The officer, who was cleared of wrongdoing, said Jaheim held a gun while he ran but did not have it in his possession as he lay wounded; police said they later discovered one in the parking lot.
Austin and Blake learned about the shooting when their phones started blowing up from people tagging them on social media. A Mississippi organizer connected them with Mateen, who invited them to a protest and the funeral. When Austin approached to pay her respects, Mateen begged her not to leave her side. “I don’t want to overstep,” Austin recalls saying, wondering if Mateen would prefer to have the time with loved ones. “She said, ‘Nope, I just need somebody [like you].’”
“I felt safe, like I had people around me who knew what I was going through,” says Mateen. “They had compassion for my son, and they didn’t even know my son.”
Most of Mateen’s friends and neighbors had no experience with this mix of grief and rage. And while they sympathized and sent donations, some couldn’t risk protesting. In such a small city, where so many businesses are white-owned, they worried about losing their jobs. Others feared retaliation from the cops. “The police will literally set your ass up here,” says Mateen. But Austin and Blake kept flying back, organizing a boycott of Family Dollar as they pressured it to release surveillance footage of the shooting.
Now at today’s protest, Mateen, her arm wrapped around her 9-year-old son, stands with a straight face, her eyes covered with sunglasses. She still cries most days. Her lawyers advised her not to speak at this demonstration because an investigation is underway, and there is always a chance officials might use her words against her. So at her request, Austin, Blake, and others lead the rally instead. Austin still gets nervous before speeches, but when she takes the megaphone it’s like a switch is flipped, and her voice turns fiery: “I can’t stand to come out here and see a grieving mother have to deal with some bullshit!” she says, her hand on her heart as she paces. “This shit is real life for us! We not out here for show! We still burying and going to court for our kids, man.”
“If we all go together and tell our stories,” Austin says, “it makes a better chance of somebody getting justice.”She looks ahead and slows down, with a message not just for the police, but for other activists. “Don’t come to Gulfport and be part of the problem,” she says, alluding to the protesters who bought the socks and, two days earlier, landed in jail after escalating a demonstration against Mateen’s wishes. “We wasted resources on bailing y’all asses out, $100,000.” Four of Jaheim’s friends, she points out, were arrested and expelled after he got shot. “They need lawyers and a school scholarship.”
Blake soon steps forward calmly, with one hand in his pocket, and takes the megaphone. His voice rises, and he speaks in the manner of his late father’s sermons as he focuses the crowd. “Never forget that the purpose of this weekend was to celebrate a man who is not here—a baby that was stolen from us, taken away!” he says, after a protester behind him raises a fist.
Though the crowd is small, a surprising number have traveled here after losing their own loved ones to law enforcement. Among them is Sabrina Foster, whose son, Glenn Foster Jr., a former NFL player, was found dead in a patrol car in Alabama. She drove here with Mona Hardin, whose son Ronald Greene was fatally beaten after a police chase in Louisiana. “We have a duty to stand by each other,” says Deanna Joseph, who came from Florida after suing her sheriff’s office for the death of her teenage son, Andrew. Several mothers tell me that if it weren’t for each other, they wouldn’t know how to keep going. “If we all go together and tell our stories,” Austin says, “it makes a better chance of somebody getting justice, somebody’s case getting reopened.”
When the last person has spoken, Austin leads a march down Pass Road. Blake, with his bad knees and recovering heart, rides in a car up front. Some drivers honk in solidarity as they pass. Austin sings “Happy Birthday” over the megaphone, the others joining in as they block a lane of traffic. Jaheim would have been 16 this week.
Later that night, Austin and Blake sit with friends around a table at their Airbnb, playing spades as they listen to a video of the day’s protest. “What do we want? Justice!” a voice on the tape says. “When do we want it?”
“Now!” Blake sings as he deals the cards.
The day ended peacefully, and Austin is relieved. She knows there are dangers to this work: Last summer, before she and Blake went to Akron, Ohio, to protest the police killing of Jayland Walker, she says an officer was recorded claiming that the city jail had a “cot with their name on it.” The cops followed through, arresting Austin and Blake for disorderly conduct, though they were not convicted. Blake also recalls how Proud Boys showed up in Kenosha, hanging out car windows and pointing assault rifles at him.
Breonna, Austin says, sends signals to her sometimes that she’s with them on these trips—and in Gulfport it’s no different. Before they arrived, the Airbnb owner shared the security code to enter the house: 313—like March 13, the day Breonna died.
The next day, after too little sleep, Austin drives two hours across Mississippi to Taylorsville, a small town where she’ll meet Mateen to protest the death of yet another Black family’s son, Rasheem Carter. Blake isn’t feeling well and stays home to rest.
As Austin winds along quiet country roads, she ruminates about one of the officers who shot Breonna—he recently wrote a book about it and took part in a publicity event at a restaurant, playing audio of gunfire in front of diners as they ate. His brazenness infuriates Austin. “These people think they can do whatever they want, say whatever they want,” she says.
Then her phone rings, and it’s her 1-year-old granddaughter, Kynnbre, on FaceTime. “Yay! Did you pee-pee in the potty?” Austin says, and the girl squeals with delight. “I see you: You a big girl!” Austin says, smiling as Kynnbre, whose name is a combination of Kenny and Bre, walks out of the bathroom to get some cereal and sit with her stuffed animals. Austin encourages her to practice her ABCs, and then they blow air kisses and say goodbye.
Austin turns to me. “This is a little bit of joy that we all had since Breonna been gone,” she says. “Everybody just love on her.”
Austin is often on the road three weeks a month. On top of that, she has a part-time gig as an ER technician, which she keeps to afford food and a roof over her kids’ heads. Breonna’s mother, Palmer, got a multimillion-dollar settlement from her lawsuit, but Austin still worries about money; if she were to leave her job to devote herself to the movement, she’d miss the health insurance for her kids, the 401(k). She wishes the government would subsidize the kind of work she does on the road, so she could help more families. “The demand for us is so high, but they don’t pay anything,” she says, adding that grassroots fundraising only goes so far, even since 2020. Last year, US Rep. Cori Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist from St. Louis, introduced a bill that would set aside $100 million for community-based services like theirs that help families with mental health support after police violence. It didn’t pass. “Why should we make the people pay for us out here?” Austin asks. “This is as much a government issue as it is a people issue.”
When we arrive in Taylorsville, we pull into a parking lot where a small group of protesters, mostly Black, gather to march. Some hold signs, and others raise fists. Taylorsville is still considered a sundown town, dangerous after dark for Black travelers, and it’s where 25-year-old Rasheem Carter was last seen alive in October. The weekend he went missing, he visited the police station, terrified, and said some white men were chasing and threatening him. The police brushed him off, and a month later his skeleton was found in pieces in the woods, the skull detached. The sheriff’s department said at the time that it saw no signs of foul play.
Austin sits in the car, watching the crowd grow, her body feeling heavy with the weight of everybody’s pain. She knows this march, like the others, will inevitably remind her of her own losses. Protesting, as Blake put it earlier, is continuously “ripping off the scab.” But stopping would be harder. “It’s therapeutic,” she says, “to know you’re not the only one going through tragedy, and there’s other people going through way worse.” She listens as the protesters, some of them children, chant “Black power,” and then steps out of the car to join Mateen.
It’s dark by the time they drive back to Gulfport, and everyone is tired. After we arrive, we linger in the car, a door propped open as Mateen smokes a cigarette and talks about her son, occasionally crying. She says she’s never spent so long sitting like this with a reporter, and Austin, in the driver’s seat, encourages her.
The mood is somber until I ask about their friendship, how often they’re in touch. “Like once a week, twice a week,” says Mateen. “We texting or—”
“Something,” she and Austin both say, and they laugh.
“Even if we’re just saying hi,” says Mateen, or—
“How you doing?” they both say in unison, and they laugh again.
“Families United has been there for me the whole way, and going nowhere,” says Mateen, “because I’m not letting her go.” And they laugh again.
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]]>The Closets Symposium will educate designers, fabricators, retailers, and installers on the most current design, marketing, and business topics relevant to industry professionals seeking to profit from this growing and exciting market niche.
The symposium will occur in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The full-day agenda includes:
How to Use Social Media Influencers | 9:05–9:55 am
Strategies on how to use social media influencers to build your brand.
Presenters:
Carlissa Montoya, CM Closet Design: Carlissa Montoya is the spirit and expertise behind CM Closet Design. In 2020, Montoya launched, with her husband, EncoreGarage San Antonio. EncoreGarage San Antonio specializes in transforming residential garages into clean, organized, and functional spaces. Services include premium Polyurea floor coatings, Garage-Grade cabinetry, and innovative organizer systems. Montoya is a member of the Association of Closet & Storage Professionals (ACSP) Executive Board and is in-coming president.
Allanna Bell, Optimization Dolls: For 20 years Allanna Bell worked in retail management as a visual and store development manager. She worked as a project manager in high volume store openings for some of the top retailers using space optimizations as a planning tool to successfully place thousands of garments and accessories. This gave her the organizational skills and experience to strategically plan a functional space and ensure the success of any project. Bell launched Optimization Dolls in 2016 as a closet organization company and in 2020, Optimization Dolls became a full-service custom storage company.
Telling Your Brand Story | 10:00-10:50 am
Learn how to craft compelling stories to build awareness and attract customers.
Presenter:
Kelly Victor-Burke, Burke Architectural Millwork/Bespoke Closets & Organized Spaces: Since founding Burke Architectural Millwork in 2016 with her husband Barry, an experienced craftsman, Kelly Victor-Burke has spearheaded a team of business owners, educational partners and industry organizations in the creation and approval of the first Department of Labor registered apprenticeship in woodworking: Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist. Victor-Burke also debuted Bespoke Closets and Organized Spaces, a custom closet line with “panache,” this year.
How to Elevate Closet Design | 11:00 am–11:50 pm
Enhance designs using techniques, textures, colors, materials and more.
Presenter:
Katherin Lawry, Haven Closet Interiors: Katherin Lawry is a dynamic luxury closet designer with a natural flair for creativity and a wealth of experience in the field of closet design. With a background in retail merchandising and a degree from the prestigious Interior Designer’s Institute in Newport Beach, she has established herself as a leading figure in the industry.
Budgeting versus Forecasting | 1:05-1:55 pm
Learn to balance expenses with sales expectations to maximize profits.
Presenter:
Tim Coleman, SCE Unlimited Chicago: Tim Coleman founded his closet organization company in 1988 and ran his business for nearly 30 years. He sold his successful company in 2017 and was asked by that buyer to stay on to run the closet division, which he did for three years. In October of 2020, Coleman took the helm at SCE Unlimited in the Chicagoland area, which is owned by Installed Building Products, a publicly traded $2.5 billion company. SCE offers both Wire & Solid Systems from melamine to veneered wood, Shower Doors & Mirrors, and Bathroom hardware.
Material Trends | 2:00–2:50 pm
Presenter:
Christina Relyea, JB Cutting: Christina Relyea has over 20 years of experience at JB Cutting, Inc., a nationally preferred cabinet door, drawer, and wood component manufacturer. Relyea is passionate about examining what finishes sell in which marketplace and where to find the complementary products to make for a seamless experience for her customers. She enjoys serving two industry associations, ACSP (Association of Closet and Storage Professionals) as President, and AWFS (Association of Woodworking and Furnishing Suppliers).
Lighting Innovations | 3:00– 4:00 pm
Learn more about the latest innovations and how to apply the technology.
Panelists:
Richie DeMarco, Richelieu Hardware: Richie Demarco is Director of the US Market Development Closet Segment at Richelieu and has spent over 18 years in closets and home storage industry helping closet companies succeed. He is also a past president of ACSP.
Chris Heronemus, Rev-A-Shelf: Chris Heronemus graduated from the University of Arizona in 2009 with a degree in Education and joined Rev-a-Shelf as Western Territory Manager in 2017. With a background in Education and leadership, his career expands into several industries, including corporate training and sales. He may have been new to sales, but not the industry, as Mr. Heronemus’s father has been woodworking for over 25 years and is one of his biggest inspirations. Passionate about helping his clients specify innovative cabinet organization and LED lighting accessories, Heronemus is always amazed to see how his customers react Rev-A-Shelf’s new product releases designed to meet their needs.
Keith Clark, Hardware Resources: Keith Clark is the National Sales Specialist for Task Lighting, covering both the Kitchen-Bath-Closet and Electrical Channels. He formerly served as Task Lighting’s Product Manager for 4.5 years after its acquisition by Hardware Resources in 2018.
Scott Begin, Business Development - Closet and Home Organization, Hafele America: Scott Begin’s background includes more than 21 years in manufacturing and development, including thirteen years in the Custom Closet business before accepting a position with Häfele America Co. Over his 23 years with Häfele, Scott has held several positions, including Sales, Specification, Sales Manager, and Regional Sales Director. “Lighting and illuminating spaces have been a passion of mine from day one. During my career with Häfele, I have collaborated with hundreds of designers incorporating light into their spectacular projects. Light is the perfect complement and enhancement to every beautiful design.” Scott still enjoys practicing design skills by remodeling closets, kitchens, and bathrooms and restoring vintage homes.
Registration for the Closets Symposium includes admission to lunch, the Woodworking Network Leadership Reception after the last session, and AWFS Fair exhibit hall registration. To register for the symposium, first register for the AWFS Fair and then click on the link to "Add Symposia." See you there.
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]]>As living spaces continue to shrink, maximizing small spaces has become a top priority for homeowners and renters alike. In cities where real estate is at a premium, the need for small space solutions has never been greater. Fortunately, with creativity and clever design tricks, it’s possible to turn even the tiniest of spaces into a functional and stylish home.
One of the biggest challenges regarding small spaces is making every inch count. It means finding ways to use vertical space, utilizing multi-functional furniture, and being smart about storage solutions. The right approach makes even the smallest studio apartment or tiny house feel spacious and inviting.
Maximizing small spaces doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style, either. In fact, designing a small space can be an opportunity to get creative and inject personality into your home. From light color choices to unique lighting solutions, there are endless ways to make a small space your own.
Small space solutions are essential whether you’re living in a tiny apartment, a tiny house, or just looking to make the most of a small room in your home. With some ingenuity and careful planning, you can create a beautiful and functional space that feels much larger than it is.
Living in a small apartment can be challenging, especially when making the most of the limited space available. However, you can transform your small space into a cozy, functional home with creativity and thoughtful planning. Below are some tips that will help you maximize space in your small apartment.
When maximizing small spaces, start by decluttering and organizing your belongings.
Remove redundant items and only keep the essentials. Use storage boxes, baskets, and shelves to keep things organized and easy to find. Consider investing in furniture with additional storage, such as a bed with drawers underneath or a coffee table with hidden storage.
One of the small space solutions that is effective is to use multi-functional furniture. Choose pieces that can be used in various ways, such as a sofa bed, a folding table, or a storage ottoman that can also be used as extra seating. It will help you save space and make the most of every square inch in your apartment.
When working with limited floor space, it’s essential to utilize vertical space. Install shelves or cabinets on the walls to store books, decorations, and other items. Hang pots and pans in the kitchen, or use a hanging shoe organizer to store cleaning supplies or toiletries in the bathroom. It will help free up space on the floor and make your apartment feel more spacious.
Using soft colors and mirrors is one of the small space solutions that can make your apartment feel bigger. Light colors reflect more light, making a room more open and airy. Mirrors also reflect light and create the illusion of more space. Hang a large mirror on the wall or add a mirrored wardrobe to make your bedroom more spacious.
Living in a small house is equally challenging to maximize small spaces. But there are some tricks you can apply to make every inch count.
Furniture with exposed legs not only looks stylish and modern, but it also creates an illusion of space by allowing light to pass through and creating an airy atmosphere. It is particularly true for furniture like sofas, chairs, and coffee tables, which can take up a lot of floor space. When these pieces are elevated with exposed legs, it makes the room look and feel more spacious.
In addition to providing an illusion of space, furniture with exposed legs can also be functional. For example, if you have a small living room with limited space for storage, using a sofa or a chair with exposed legs will allow you to see underneath and use the space for storing baskets or bins.
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Maximizing small spaces with small furniture might be an excellent choice for your limited square footage. Opting for pieces designed to fit into tight quarters can free up valuable floor space and make your house feel more open.
Small space solutions come in all shapes and sizes. From compact sofas and chairs to clever storage solutions that utilize every inch of space, plenty of options are available to help you make the most of your living area.
One of the key benefits of small furniture is that it allows you to create more functional spaces. Instead of cramming an oversized sectional couch into a tiny living room, you could opt for a cozy loveseat and a couple of armchairs. It would create a more intimate seating area perfect for entertaining guests or relax with a good book.
One often overlooked area that can provide a lot of extra space is corners. You can turn these small spaces into functional and stylish places in your house.
One of the best small space solutions for corners is to install shelves. By adding shelving units, you can create a storage space for books, knick-knacks, and other items that would otherwise clutter up your living area. You can also use the shelves to display art or decorative items, giving your room a unique and personalized touch.
Another way to make the most of corners is to add a corner desk. It is an excellent solution if you work from home or need a dedicated space for your computer. Utilizing the corner allows you to create a functional workspace without taking up too much floor space.
A cluttered kitchen can be overwhelming, mainly if you have limited counter and storage space. Fortunately, plenty of small space solutions can help you make the most out of your kitchen storage. The kitchen trends for 2023 are all about creating innovative storage solutions.
Maximizing small spaces by utilizing the walls inside your kitchen might be the way to go. Installing shelves or hanging baskets can provide additional storage while saving valuable counter space. Consider using a pegboard to hang your pots and pans or a magnetic strip to keep your knives within reach.
Another great way to make the most of your kitchen storage is by using containers and organizers. Group similar items together in clear containers to save space and make it easier to find what you need. Use drawer dividers to keep utensils and cutlery organized, and install pill-out organizers in your cabinets to make the most of every inch.
A small bedroom means limited storage, cramped quarters, and a lack of room for your belongings. But fear not! You can transform your bedroom into a cozy, relaxing space with creativity and small space solutions.
Maximizing small spaces by investing in multi-functional furniture might be a wise investment. Opt for a bed with built-in storage, such as drawers underneath or shelves above the headboard. Consider a desk that can double as a nightstand.
Another great way to maximize space in a small bedroom is by using the space under your bed. Invest in under-bed storage containers or bags for linens or off-season clothes. It will free up valuable closet and dresser space.
When it comes to small bedrooms, less is often more. Avoid clutter and opt for a minimalist approach to decor. Stick to a neutral color palette and limit the number of decorative items in the room. It will create a clean, uncluttered look and make your small space feel larger.
Maximizing natural light in a small bedroom can make it feel more open and spacious. Keep window treatments minimal to allow for as much light as possible. If you don’t have access to natural light, consider investing in quality lighting fixtures to brighten up the room.
Living in a small space can significantly impact our mental well-being. The limited square footage can make us feel cramped and restricted, whether it’s a studio apartment or a tiny house. However, there are ways to combat these adverse effects by maximizing small spaces and finding small space solutions.
One of the psychological effects of living in a small space is feeling claustrophobic. The lack of space can make us feel like we have no room to breathe or move around. It can lead to increased stress and anxiety levels. However, we can make our small space more open and spacious by using creative storage solutions and minimizing clutter.
Another effect of small spaces is the feeling of being confined. We may feel like we have no privacy or personal space, leading to a sense of unease.
Nevertheless, we can make the most of our limited space while maintaining a sense of personal privacy by using furniture that doubles as storage, such as a bed with built-in drawers or a coffee table with hidden compartments.
Maximizing small spaces can also have positive effects on our mental health. When forced to live in a small space, we must be more intentional with our belongings and lifestyle choices. It can lead to a sense of simplicity and minimalism, generating increased feelings of contentment and satisfaction.
In conclusion, maximizing small spaces has never been more critical in our fast-paced and urbanized world. Whether living in a tiny apartment, a cozy house, or just trying to make the most of a small room, there are many innovative and stylish ways to optimize your surroundings.
From multifunctional furniture to clever storage solutions, the key to maximizing small spaces is to be creative, practical, and efficient.
The post Maximizing small spaces: Tips and tricks for making the most of limited square footage appeared first on Real Estate Agent Blog.
]]>Like, get everything tidy so you can fully enjoy yourself within the walls of your home, instead of feeling like your house is just a giant “junk drawer”!
So trying to schedule in time to actually do any decluttering or organizing project can seem challenging.
That is why I created an entire system for how to declutter your entire house in one weekend!
By following these steps, you are sure to come out with a totally decluttered and tidy home.
Before starting the decluttering process, you need to start with a plan. Write down all the areas of your home you want to declutter.
I typically suggest decluttering by rooms. I have found that it is easier to declutter by room so you can stay focused on one area at a time.
Your plan should focus on what rooms you want to declutter. You also want to decide where you are donating or selling items.
Read more tips for getting clear on organizing below:
How To Change Your Mindset About Organizing Your Home
How To Think Like An Organizer
Best Way To Get Your Entire Home Decluttered
Once you have decided on what spaces you are going to declutter, I suggest setting a schedule. Give yourself a reasonable about of time to work on each space.
Don’t forget to schedule meal breaks!! I also recommend giving yourself some extra time for “just in case”. Let’s say a project takes longer than you anticipated, giving yourself extra time either in the middle of the day or the end will help keep you on track.
After you have created your plan and set a schedule, grab some supplies to make your declutter move quickly.
I recommend large garbage bags for donations. Paper bags for items you might want to sell. Cleaning supplies to help you wipe down spaces before you put things back. If you own one, grab your label maker or Post-It notes for labeling bins or shelves. I also would recommend creating a playlist of your favorite songs to get you going!
I also recommend putting together a declutter caddy! A declutter caddy is a caddy that you use while you declutter your space. Inside the caddy are the things you need to declutter, like garbage bags, cleaning supplies, and labels.
My declutter caddy kits are for sale! You can DIY or have them printed and mailed to you!
On the first day of your entire home declutter set a timer for your first category. Make sure the timer is loud enough that you can hear it. I like to set the timer on my phone. Once the timer goes off, quickly finish up your project so you can move on to the next.
If you are in the middle of a project, complete the current project before moving on to the next category. Readjust your timing if needed.
As you are working on each space, try to really declutter down your stuff before you organize.
Ask yourself if this item is something you want to bring with you into your future. Does this item have a meaningful purpose? Do you actually use/wear this item? Keep these questions in mind with each and every item you declutter.
Be totally honest with yourself so you make sure you only keep what you need!
Decluttering things can be hard, so I have some helpful tips you may enjoy:
How To Think Like A Professional Organizer While Decluttering Your Home
Best Solutions For Parting With Sentimental Items
After you declutter a space, group items together based on how you use them or by category. This is called a “zone” in the organizing world.
By creating zones for all your items, you are easily able to see what you have since everything from that one category is stored together.
Think of it this way, you keep your clothes in your closet so you can see them. Why not store all shoes together so you can see everything? Or keep your toiletries together so you know what you have!
When I work with clients to create zones, we always think about the most effective and easy-to-locate places in your home. Keep things as easy as possible!!
But figuring what categories should be stored where can be tricky, so I have some tips for you.
A Step-By-Step Guide To Creating A Minimalist Closet
5 Secrets To Bathroom Under Sink Storage
How To Organize Your Kitchen Without Spending Anything
Too Many Toys? How You Can Declutter Easily
After You Declutter, What Do You Do With The Leftover Stuff?
Finally, label everything you put away. This will help you keep up with your newly decluttered home. Make putting things away incredibly easy so clutter doesn’t pile up again.
Also it helps with family members who may not know where to put things.
You can use your label maker to label the drawers for clothing or shelving in the pantry. Add Post-It notes to bins so you know what is inside until you get or make other types of labels. By making sure everything is labeled, you can easily store it without having to think about it.
I have shared countless ways to create labels as well. From picture labels on the kids’ toy bins to decorative pantry labels! But my favorite are sticker labels pack you can get in my shop!
To actually declutter your home in one weekend, you need to create a plan.
Once you have that plan set, create a declutter caddy. This caddy will help you as you declutter each room on your plan.
Group like items together and store them together.
Make sure you label everything. The labels help you keep your space organized because you know where everything is supposed to go.
The post How To Declutter Your Home In One Weekend appeared first on The Organized Mama.
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]]>The Spicy Shelf Expandable Under Sink Organizer helps you to perfectly organize your cleaning, bathroom and kitchen supplies in the awkward and messy space around your sink plumbing – as well as any cabinet, closet or room. With the double rack, you can maximize storage space and gain accessibility and visibility. It’s versatility makes it […]
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]]>If you haven’t heard of the idea of a “push present”, get this: the concept might actually be centuries old. The Indian ritual of godh bharai is similar to a baby shower, although in this case, instead of the typical bottles and baby swing, the expecting mom is lavished with gifts and cash (um, yes please). To absolutely no one’s surprise, celebrity culture has increased the push present’s popularity. Kristin Cavallari was treated to a Birkin Bag in 2012, courtesy of now-hubby Jay Cutler. Jay-Z gifted Beyoncé a blue diamond worth $35K (apparently, Jays give solid presents).
On the flip side, some people aren’t big fans of the concept. We’ve heard that the baby is (obviously) the best gift already, so if you’re in the “nope” camp, we get it. That said, many believe that new moms should have whatever they want. We can’t really argue that, either.
Our take? If you or your partner is Team Push Present, we have some excellent ideas (though we skipped the Birkin Bag thing because…wow). Not into the idea? Consider just making sure your favorite new mom is as supported as possible—cooking, cleaning, watching the little one while she gets a much-needed shower. Actually, we have a little experience in New Mom Territory and would highly suggest doing that, regardless of gift-giving. New mom yourself? You have all the permission in the world to pick yourself up something from our (awesome) list below. Or link your partner for a little hint-dropping.
It's totally possible you don't feel like dressing up in the days and weeks after delivering your little one, and we so get it. That's why we love The Louise. It's a lounge dress. It's a swim cover-up. It's your go-to to feel more polished—add a belt, wear it off or on your shoulders. 100% cotton means you'll be temperature-regulated and comfortable. One size fits dress sizes 0-16. The Louise Dress from Marea ($198.00)—Buy Here!
This dainty necklace in 14k solid gold is a quintessential push present. If you're not really a "mama" person, it also comes in a "mom" option. Mini Love Letters "Mama" Necklace ($315.00)—Buy Here!
Okay, so you're probably not thinking a lot about jewelry, but that's why we love the Nap Earrings from Maison Miru! They're the set-it-and-forget-it of the accessory world and can be worn all the time, thanks to the flat backs that even make it easy to sleep on. Maison Miru Nap Earrings ($230.00)—Buy Now!
There's no reason to limit your gifts to stuff. Virgin Experiences has everything from massages, spa days, yoga experiences, art classes, city tours, and more. Or, give a Virgin Experiences gift card and let mom pick for herself. Virgin Experiences (Price Varies)—Buy Here!
You're already keeping track of...everything. Your smartwatch is a lifesaver, so keep it on a pretty band that makes it feel a little more like jewelry and less like a tool. It's available in both gold and silver, and may we suggest adding the matching pearl tennis bracelet? Pearl Apple Watch Band by Goldenerre ($158.00)—Buy Here!
Dainty earrings are always welcome with grabby baby hands about, and these birth flower earrings are perfect for commemorating your baby's birthday month. They're available in sterling silver or 14k gold plating. Sterling Silver Birth Flower Earrings ($52.00)—Buy Here!
A super healthy & delicious mushroom-based adaptogenic coffee boost? The Chagaccino is the health & wellness version of the mocha latte, and spiked with an effective dose of the planet’s greatest adaptogens. It also tastes amazing. (If you're nursing, you'll want to speak to your healthcare provider before starting a supplement, just to be safe.). Chagaccino 30-Serving Starter Kit ($74.99)—Buy Here!
While the description of this lovely necklace set mentions Cupid, we're seriously firm believers that holding your babe for the very first time is even more powerful. A Powerful Force Necklace Set by Air & Anchor ($318.00)—Buy Here!
We know. We have the nerve to add a swimsuit to this list. Trust us, though. After having a baby, few things feel as good as feeling supported—mentally, obviously, but physically, some compression helps with postpartum recovery. The Stylest swimsuit is ultra-supportive, extremely flattering, and perfect for dipping your toes back in the water. It also comes in several colors, so you can find the perfect suit for your style. Stylest Sculpting Square Neck Swimsuit ($198.00)—Buy Here!
Settling on a baby name can be a challenge in itself, so celebrating your little one and their perfect name is a must. The initial diamond pendant comes in yellow, white, or rose gold, and these stunning lab-grown diamonds let you feel good about an ethical purchase. Initial Diamond Pendant by Keyzar ($780.00)—Buy Here!
Something about having a go-to dress makes all the difference. It can be challenging to find clothes that are comfortable and make you feel good, and this stunning dress checks both boxes. It's an all-occasion piece that you can wear to weddings, brunch, and running errands (while staying cool and unrestricted). It's also maternity-friendly, so it'll easily be a favorite for years to come. Ivy City Co. Delia Dress in Multicolor Floral ($118.00)—Buy Here!
It's so easy to misplace your most treasured jewelry, especially when you're focused on more important things. This beautiful jewelry pouch from Lucrin holds all of your sparkles securely, will last an incredibly long time, and comes in a ton of colors. Keeping your special pieces in a special place is definitely a gift. Lucrin Leather Jewelry Pouch ($265.00)—Buy Here!
Made from handwoven premium Vachetta leather, this stunning handbag is perfect for a seriously stylish diaper bag, travel bag, or everyday tote. It's handwoven in L3 Marche, Italy, comes in two hues, and is lined with 100% cotton. This is truly an heirloom. The Elena Woven Handbag by Milaner ($765.00)—Buy Here!
This beauty does it all—from cleansing, moisturizing, and sculpting, it's an all-in-one tool that clears pores, lifts, and refines. It's ideal for sensitive postpartum skin and increases circulation. A spa treatment in the bathroom? Find us a mom who doesn't deserve that. We'll wait. Primal Life Face Sculptor Ultrasonic Wand ($141.75)—Buy Here!
Jaw-dropping? Absolutely. This multi-shape line bracelet from Cadis is designed with ethically-created lab diamonds and 925 silver. It's the true definition of "bling" and we can't stop staring. Cadis Line Bracelet ($580.00)—Buy Here!
This is serious luxury. A lotion melt bar, moisturizing bar soap, body scrub, skin mask, and lip balm round out this beautiful collection from Butter & Me. Butter & Me Renew Essential Selfcare Kit ($70.00)—Buy Here!
This isn't just body oil. It's moisturizing, smoothing, and anti-inflammatory. After applying this golden serum to your whole face and body don't forget to enjoy the relaxing aroma that comes from the au natural geranium, rosehip, chamomile and rosemary oils. Use it anywhere you need some extra love. Halo 42 Oil Over Me Face & Body Elixir ($96.00)—Buy Here!
The new Google Pixel Pro 7 offers a seriously state-of-the-art camera with easy-to-use features that’ll capture every family moment perfectly—whether that’s using Photo Unblur to resurrect shaky photos taken while wrangling the kids or an ultrawide front-facing camera to fit the whole crew in a selfie. Google Pixel Pro 7 ($699.00)—Buy Here!
Store cherished keepsakes like hospital name bracelets, lost teeth, and favorite binkies safely and all in one place with this library-style organizer using its illustrated labels, acid-free drawers, vertical files, and tiny envelopes. This library-style display keeps everything together where you can reach for it anytime. Baby Keepsake Library ($95.00)—Buy Here!
We know that this isn't the time where many new parents are getting a ton of sleep, and that's why making the most out of the sleep you do get is so important. Adjustable eye cups mold perfectly to your face to block 100% of light, and true blackout unlocks maximum deep sleep in any environment & any position. Manta Sleep Mask ($39.00)—Buy Here!
Create the perfect comfort kit with a full nine pieces in total, featuring Kindred Bravely's best-selling hospital and postpartum styles. Kindred Bravely Labor & Delivery Essentials Bundle ($133.95)—Buy Here!
One big fluffy blanket. The Premier Plush blanket is a 10’ x 10’ ultra-plush, breathable, all season microfiber blanket that wraps you in cozy, cloud-like comfort. For sleeping, nursing, couch cuddles, and generally keeping new moms feeling cozy. Big Blanket Co Premiere Plush Blanket ($279.00)—Buy Here!
These beautiful crystals are created with rainbow moonstone—a stone linked to the divine feminine, and is a symbol of love. It can be helpful in alleviating emotional tension and enhancing creativity, intuition, and self-expression. It's said to promote ease and help balance the hormones during the menstrual cycle, puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Whether they're into the whole crystal thing or not, it's such a pretty gesture. Rainbow Moonstone Point ($19.00)—Buy Here!
Whether it's every week or every month, gift them farm-fresh flowers from one of our favorite florists. Starting at just $44/month, you can pick your frequency and give them something to look forward to over and over again. Bouqs Flower Subscription ($44.00/month+)—Buy Here!
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]]>DIY home projects ideas aren’t as intimidating as you’d think they are and I’ve got this round up to prove it! Below are a number of things you can do, ranging from small crafts to total room makeover. Did I mention that I’ve organized the projects by room to make it easier for you too? Don't forget to bookmark this page for future use!
One of the beauties of platform beds is how you can customize them according to the height you want. There are loads of styles available — even ones that allow for extra storage. Check out this article for a range of DIY platform beds you can choose from.
Who knew making such a chic looking headboard would be this easy? This only means one thing, it's time to make your old furniture look brand new with these projects.
Need a new place to hide your diary and your embarrassing photos? Look no further. I’ve got a list of secret hiding places you can DIY for your room.
Make a fabulous room accent this weekend with the help of some dream catcher tutorials! Legend has it that dream catchers help ensure you're blessed with a good dream as you sleep. I'll let you be the judge of this one!
Drink wine like nobody’s business? Collect your leftover corks and turn them into a work of art! Here are more wall decor ideas for your room.
Little touches of Disney will make any room feel more magical! Pick a fairy tale and look at what you can DIY. Here are our room ideas for Disney fans.
There's no need to be envious of all the cute bedrooms you see on Tumblr and Pinterest. These DIY Tumblr ideas are easy to do and they make any room look Instagram worthy in an instant. It won't be long until you're making your very own room tour video to show off your crafts.
A mirrored dresser is trendy, functional, and adds a lot of fun to a room. A word of caution, make sure to use gloves and be careful when handling the broken glass. You wouldn't want to cut yourself with this DIY project!
Prevent stuffiness by hanging these plants inside the room. Not only will you improve your green thumb and have something pretty to look at, but you'll also get fresh oxygen produced by the plants. Win win!
Sometimes even the smallest DIY upgrades can make a big difference in the look and feel of the room. Case in point are these drawer pulls. These ones are made out of leather but if you'd like, you can choose to use your favorite fabric as well.
Add a rustic feel to your living room with these candle holders. You can opt to use them as a centerpiece or place them in different areas of your home. I can already imagine how cozy and relaxing the ambiance will be when all the tea lights are lit up.
An ottoman is a great way to add extra storage space without anybody noticing. Want to make your own this month? Here are some DIY ottoman projects to choose from!
Don’t these stacked shelves look absolutely chic? The best part about DIYing this project is you’re in charge of the shapes you want to create and build.
Love Crate and Barrel but not comfortable shelling out too much cash? Try these Crate and Barrel hacks that will give you more bang for your buck!
This dual purpose coffee table both acts as a table and as a storage compartment. The best part is, it's a DIY project waiting to happen — perfect for the times when you don't have much money to burn.
These dollar store crafts are addicting! It's such a joy and a comfort knowing most of the items needed for a DIY project can be found in a dollar store haul. It's DIY made even cheaper!
Who says you need to fork over loads of dollar bills to have a unique chandelier everyone will be talking about? This mason jar chandelier will cost you a fraction of the price and will only take you on a trip to home depot.
Put your extra mason jars to good use! They're excellent as containers for cotton balls, makeup brushes, and even your toothbrush. Here are a couple more DIY storage ideas just for you!
Sometimes a quick change of tiles is what can turn a bathroom from drab to fab. Here are our bathroom tile ideas for less!
Bring a little extra character to your bathroom with this recycled glass bottle. Your choice of bottle will speak loads about you!
This owl basket was such a hoot to make! ????
17 Crochet Patterns for Beginners: https://t.co/3XIJkmScYf
Our IG: https://t.co/NmUza6zJPi pic.twitter.com/TQxd0gdlGg
— DIY Projects (@DIYProjectsCom) February 5, 2017
Repurpose baskets to help store extra towels and toilet paper. Want more upcycling projects? Check out this article of bathroom decorating ideas on a budget!
Ever wanted your bathroom to look and feel like the ones at high end spas? Well then, I've got just the thing for you! This smooth stone mat looks so chic, you wouldn't think this was an easy DIY project! By the way, if you place this near your front door, you can take off your shoes and let them rest on the mat. That way, you won't have to worry about dirt spreading all over the house. Trust me, it will make such a big difference!
A tight kitchen space shouldn’t stop you from having a pantry of your own! I've figured out a way to make a pull out pantry shelf that will fit even the tightest corners. It might have taken some elbow grease but the extra storage space was well worth it.
If you’ve got a knack for color, then this DIY should be right up your alley. You can even go the extra mile by painting on a different colored stripe for each utensil. Raring to get started? Here’s a guide to making your own painted utensils.
Put your favorite kitchen pieces on display with the help of a repurposed wooden crate. Who knew you could use it as an organizer, right?
Keep your drinks nice and cold on summer days with a drink koozie you can make from scratch! I’ve got loads of DIY koozies for you to choose from!
If you thought the glass bottle turned soap dispenser idea was cool, you’ll love this one! It makes for a great conversation starter and you’ll never run out of glasses at your next party!
There are two types of people: those who love coasters and those who forget to use them. Regardless of which category you’re in, I’m sure these mini pallet coasters will give a rustic charm to your space!
Turn away from chemical disinfectants and use an agent with ingredients you can find in your very own kitchen. These DIY natural cleaning products are not only environmental and pet friendly, but they're budget friendly as well.
I’m an absolute sucker for lights so I’m a personal fan of this project! Make your own wine bottle lights with this tutorial.
Dreamt of having charming touches in your house? All you need is a bit of wood and you’re all set! Read this for some reclaimed wood craft ideas.
Who says mason jars were only created to hold vibrant colored smoothies? I’ve got loads of ideas for you to choose from, like this herb garden where you can grow your favorite rosemary and basil.
Tiki torches are the perfect accent to any luau. Pair it with some pretty cocktails, tropical food, and hula skirts and you’ve one rocking party waiting to happen!
A fire pit is a great way to keep warm during the cold months. There are many different ways to DIY a fire pit. The usual ones include stone and brick, but did you know you could make one using an old washing machine's drum too?
Kids will love this garden decor DIY! I bet they'd even give you a hand if you gave them a heads up on what you'd be making. Have the little ones design their very own garden guard to keep the bugs and weeds away!
Enjoy fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables in the comfort of your very own greenhouse garden. Since you'll be growing them yourself, you'll get to make sure that your produce stays away from any harmful pesticides most supermarket bought vegetables (including fruits) is exposed to.
These rainbow roses are such a sight to behold. Who knew all it took were food dye and an overnight's wait to get these gorgeous flowers?
For more home projects ideas on what you can do, watch this video from Rachel Talbott!
I sure hope these DIY home projects ideas have shown you it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to give your home a little makeover. Sometimes all it takes is a little ingenuity, a bit of arm grease, and a couple of DIY articles to turn your living space into an enviable home.
Which room are you going to start first? Share what DIY home project idea you'll be working on in the comments below!
Feeling confined with your limited apartment space? Here are some space saving ideas for studio apartments!
Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!
Feature image from Food52
]]>You’ll be a happy camper with these hacks! 🏕️
Try our frugal Dollar Tree camping ideas to make every trip a breeze! They’re easy camping hacks that will save you time and money! Camping can be one of the most fun, frugal vacations you can go on with your family.
Grab a mesh laundry bag and place your wet dishes in them to keep your dishes clean after washing them. Hang it up on a tree limb and the dishes will dry and stay clean from dirt or sand. Plus, you can use your mesh bag for its original intent during and after your trip if needed.
Not only will this camping hack look like you’re glamping, but it’s also a great way to make it easier to see around your campsite at night. Simply place your solar lights wherever you would like more light. They’d be useful near your tent poles, tent entry, close to the bathroom, the wood pile, and more! You may even be able to find some fun solar lights in-store depending on the time of year that you shop. Plus, they’ll be just as useful in your yard once you’re home. Win, win!
Dollar Tree’s glow sticks are always fun for the kids to use while camping and they make them easy to spot in the dark! Plus, glow sticks are also helpful camping ideas to place around the tent ties at night. This means people are less likely to trip on them when they’re exiting the tent.
Minimize tripping hazards by grabbing some pool noodles to place around your tent lines! All you have to do is cut a slit down one side of the noodle and wrap it around the lines. That way there will be less chance of any injuries if anyone does happen to run into them. Better yet, they’ll still be usable for the pool after your trip.
Make a simple and convenient camping toilet using a 5-gallon bucket and a pool noodle! You can get the full directions from PremeditatedSurvival.com. Many of our Hip readers also recommended using a trash bag, wood chips, dirt, or cat litter to make clean-up even easier. These are one of the best camping ideas you won’t regret having!
We’ve heard Dollar Tree’s cake carrier can be a little flimsy to hold a heavy cake. However, they couldn’t be more perfect to store paper plates and napkins! One of these genius camping ideas will keep all your essentials from flying away or getting dirty. As a bonus, they’ll also be in one place when it’s time to eat!
Ticks are going to be bad this year, so taking extra precautions while you’re out in the woods is a good idea. A lint roller is an easy way to stop ticks from crawling on the outside of your clothing before they can cause harm. Just be sure to do a more thorough check once you’re undressed and while showering too.
Hip Tip: Our favorite bug repellent is tick-resistant and so safe it’s considered edible!
These Dollar Tree stacking bins are great to use inside the tent. There are endless camping ideas for staying organized with these bins! From holding games, lighters, hand sanitizer, flashlights, bug spray, and so much more! Best of all, you can pack them up before you leave so unpacking once you get set up is a cinch!
Dollar Tree’s handheld broom with dustpan is the perfect size for keeping inside the tent to sweep up the dirt, leaves, and/or sand that may creep in throughout the day. Plus, they’re great for smaller kids to use, too!
You can use a Dollar Tree hanging shower caddy to keep random kitchen supplies, games, or toiletry items organized and in one spot. Simply hang it on the side of a tree, inside the tent, or on a shaded structure for easy access. Better yet, it’s an item you can use once you’re home too.
Shoe organizers from Walmart or Amazon will also work and will cost just a few bucks more.
You’ll need somewhere to put all of your trash during your trip. While you could hang a bag from any branch, this camping hack using a laundry basket will make it easier and more accessible for everyone. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the bag ripping if it gets heavy. Even better, traditional kitchen bags fit perfectly around the edge.
You could even consider getting two baskets and designate one for recycling and one for trash!
First, enjoy your Dollar Tree Tic Tacs, then reuse them for storing your spices! Upcycling these airtight containers will allow you to bring a smaller quantity of each spice. Plus, it will be a space-savings camping hack too!
Hip Tip: Get the most out of all your trash with our other clever upcycling ideas!
According to REI.com, you can keep your tent zippers gliding smoothly by applying a little bit of candle wax from an un-lit candle. Dollar Tree sells 6-packs of emergency candles for just a buck 25!
Be sure to grab a clothesline with hooks to have a convenient place to hang wet towels, socks, shoes, swimsuits, and other apparel. In fact, you may way to grab a few if you plan to wash your clothes while camping too!
Pick up this 6-pack of jumbo plastic clothespins and clamp them on the edge of your tablecloth to keep it from blowing away.
Hip Tip: Bring an old, fitted mattress sheet from home and wrap it over the table – then just throw it in the washing machine when you’re done for easy cleanup!
Grab some easy-to-pour condiment bottles if you see yourself whipping up some pancakes while camping. You can even pre-fill them before you leave if you have the time and a way to keep your mixes fresh and cool. Once you have them ready to go, all you have to do is squeeze them into the pan.
Or if you already have some glass canning jars with lids at home, you could use those instead. Just keep in mind that they’re much more breakable if dropped.
Hip Tip: To keep things even easier, you can pre-mix some oatmeal blends, pancake mixes, etc. with ingredients that can be kept at room temperature, like dried fruits & nuts, dry milk, and shortening!
Avoid having to search around for s’mores supplies by prepping ahead of time and keeping all the items together in a plastic container with a lid. Luckily, Dollar Tree has a lot of choices if you don’t already have something laying around! You can also use them to store clean plasticware or napkins to keep them from flying away or getting dirty.
Chances are you’re planning to grill food on your upcoming camping trip. In case you didn’t think of it, you can leave the heavy grill at home and make your very own charcoal grill for just a few bucks! Best of all, aluminum is endless recyclable so you’re not leaving much of a trace with this camping hack either.
Photo credit: Instructables.com
According to Instructables.com, all you need for this camping hack is a foil pan, cooling rack, and charcoal. Keep your eye out in the store as some Dollar Tree stores usually sell small bags of charcoal around the summer holidays. That means you can create a grill for just a few bucks!
Hip Tip: Our simple queso on the grill is a delicious snack idea for your entire camping group!
Cut pieces of bar soap and place them inside a microfiber wash-mitt (found in the car section) or some bath sponges for convenient campsite scrubbing. Then just get the gloves wet when you are ready to wash and you won’t have to worry about dropping a slippery soap bar in the dirt.
Hip Tip: When the soap bar is dry, use a vegetable peeler to safely shave off the perfect amount of soap for each sponge.
Dollar Tree now has an 8-pack of shower caps which are genius camping ideas to cover your plates and bowls to keep pesky bugs away! What a fun camping hack to keep those not-so-fun mosquitoes and bugs away!
Tree also carries cute 2-pack Fly Swatters for just $1.25.
Grab two packs of these shower caps to use for your shoes! Since Dollar Tree’s shower caps come in packs of 8, you can use one pack for up to 4 people to slip over their shoes. This camping hack will help keep dirt out of your tent and/or limit the need to take your shoes off. You can also use them to place your dirty shoes in when packing up to keep any mud or dirt out of the car or backpack.
It’s always a good idea to bring a first-aid kit with you when camping. Dollar Tree sells many first-aid essentials from Band-aids to hand sanitizer to medicines and more.
Also, you may find these black toolboxes priced at just $1.25 which would be great for storing your first aid items.
You can never predict the weather! These ponchos may not be a camping hack, but they’ll keep you from getting drenched during necessary times like running from the tent to the bathroom or packing up the car when you can’t hold an umbrella.
Speaking of umbrellas, you may be able to find umbrellas at your local Dollar Tree if you want to bring one along.
Make an Instant camp lantern by wrapping an LED camping light and a rubber band around a jug of water! This works so well when you’re trying to move around at night and may help kids feel more safe at night too. This camping hack could be even more frugal if you already have a rechargeable headlamp at home too!
Hip Tip: You can make a frugal DIY headlamp in a pinch by clipping these LED camping lights to a headband around your head.
Dryer lint makes an excellent fire starter! Pack some lint in empty toilet paper rolls to take on your next camping trip. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel to help your match or lighter flame catch your tinder on fire.
Hip Tip: Some of our Hip readers also suggested using cotton balls or pads dipped in some wax as an effective waterproof fire starter! You could even take your camping hack one step further by making them ahead of time and storing them in a cardboard egg carton.
Planning meals ahead means a stress-free snack around the campfire! While you can definitely keep a list of everything you need on your phone, picking up one of Dollar Tree’s super frugal journals or planners will keep your vacation tech-free, and no one has to wonder what’s for dinner. 🙌
Check out our favorite camping recipes if you need more camping ideas. Many of them you can even prepare ahead of time:
Hip Tip: Chances are you’ll want to pack snacks for the drive to the campsite, and we’ve got you covered with this awesome Hawaiian Roll sandwich hack!
Documenting your whereabouts and itinerary are always great camping ideas especially if you have worried family and friends when you camp. While not everyone will have the ability to send photos day to day, documenting on a dry-erase board and snapping a photo is a fun way to keep track of your days and what you did.
Kids and adults alike will appreciate these cool camping ideas! You can create a fun, waterproof Tic-Tac-Toe board using just a few items from Dollar Tree. All you need are some foam pool noodles, a shower curtain, a marker, and some scissors.
Visit the Dollar Tree website for the full instructions or consider making your game even more frugal by drawing your board with chalk or masking tape!
Check out our top sunscreen recommendations for adults and the best ones for kids!
!doctype>]]>The possibilities for using mason jars in the kitchen are virtually endless, especially if you’re looking to get more organized! In this post, you’ll find tons of great mason jar ideas for kitchens, from organizing your morning coffee supplies, storing spices, cleaning, cooking, and so much more!
Below, you’ll find a list of 17 kitchen mason jar tips from past OGT posts and elsewhere around the web. I’ve recently been working on some kitchen organization projects of my own, and I’m always amazed at the difference that even the smallest effort (or smallest mason jar) can make!
Storing food in mason jars eliminates bulky packaging and makes it look a little nicer on your shelf, but sometimes it can be hard to tell what’s in a jar just by looking at it. An easy way to solve this issue is to turn the original packaging into a label for the top of your jar!
Simply trace the shape of the canning ring onto the product name on the box, then use scissors to cut it out and place it on top of the jar lid. Secure it in place with a canning ring, and voila — a simple and effective label that will clear up any confusion!
You can do this with all of your coffee fixings (like creamer, sugar, cinnamon, etc.) and make a cute coffee station on your countertop.
Related: These DIY Labels Will Make Organizing More Affordable
Mason jars make the cutest soap dispensers, in my opinion. :-) You can always buy a mason jar soap dispenser online, but you can also save a few bucks by making one right at home! Get the full instructions for making your own mason jar soap dispenser at the link below.
Related: Make A Simple Mason Jar Soap Dispenser
A mason jar is the perfect place to store homemade kitchen cleaning wipes! The jar keeps the wipes nice and moist, but still looks cute enough to be kept right on your kitchen counter. Get the instructions for making homemade kitchen wipes below.
Related: How To Make A Never-Ending Supply Of Cleaning Wipes In Minutes
You can make a marinade easily by shaking it up in a mason jar. After shaking, just put your meat in the jar for an easy, no-mess marinade experience! Get some of my favorite marinade recipes at the link below.
Related: How To Make And Use A Mason Jar Marinade
There are so many great mason jar accessories out there these days. Some of my very favorite ones turn a mason jar into a handy kitchen tool! Check out the link below to see over a dozen brilliant mason jar accessories that won’t break the bank.
Related: 15 Simple & Useful Ways To Transform A Mason Jar
Mason jar meals are a hot topic online right now. (Don’t believe me? Just search “mason jar meals” on Pinterest and see how many results you get!) And it’s no wonder, because mason jar meals are typically quick and convenient! Get some great recipes and ideas at the link below.
Related: 21 Marvelous Mason Jar Meals You Need To Try
A small mason jar is the perfect size to hold your cupcake liner collection. Not only does it look nice, but it helps you see all your options to make it easier to pick one. And it keeps the liners nice and dry!
Related: 11 Of The Best Ways To Use Cupcake Liners
You can use mason jars to help keep your refrigerated food fresh. Check out the post at the link below to learn what you should store in mason jars and why it works.
Related: 36 Easy Tips That Will Keep Your Food Fresh And Save You Money
I use mason jars to store my homemade spice mixes. They’re so much more flavorful compared to the store-bought versions, and they’re so simple to make! In fact, you can make 10 different homemade spice mixes in under one hour. Just click the link below for all the recipes, plus a very handy shopping list!
Related: Everything You Need To Make 10 Homemade Spice Mixes In Under An Hour
Is there anything with more rustic charm than a mason jar full of flowers? (Definitely not!) And you can make your mason jar vases even more charming by giving them a vintage look with some paint. Not only is it simple, but the results are simply gorgeous!
Related: DIY “Vintage” Mason Jars
from Pretty Providence
Turn a mason jar into a cute drinking tumbler! This etched glass masterpiece is sure to keep you plenty hydrated.
from The Happy Farmhouse
With just a few wide-mouth mason jars and a small planter box, you can make a custom utensil caddy! Your utensils will always be close at hand, and they’ll look great too.
Related: 11 Home Organization Hacks That Will Make You Feel Like Macgyver
from The Country Chic Cottage
Got a lot of little mason jars just sitting around? Use them to store and organize your spices in a drawer! They also made a useful liner for the bottom of the drawer that shows where each jar is supposed to go.
from Houseful of Handmade
Use mason jars to make a cute and useful utensil caddy for your outdoor barbecues. Not only is it convenient, but it makes it easier to carry utensils and other items outside when it’s time to eat.
from Landeelu
Use a pair of mason jars to make a cute set of salt and pepper shakers! I love how these ones are painted and distressed to look vintage. It looks like they came straight from the shelves of a boutique shop!
from Domestically Blissful
Turn a small mason jar into a toothpick dispenser. Keep it at your dining table (or at least nearby) so you and your guests can access it when you need it.
from Brandi Sawyer
If you’re feeling confident and ambitious, you can turn a few mason jars into a gorgeous custom light fixture! A chandelier like this could easily cost you hundreds of dollars, but making it yourself could be a more affordable option.
How do you use mason jars in the kitchen?
]]>In a small bathroom, storage is pretty tight, and often times there isn’t a simple solution (especially one that actually looks good). So, to save on floor space, we went vertical with a modern DIY […]
The post A Modern DIY Bathroom Organizer With Mirror appeared first on Architecture Art Designs.
]]>We’re in for a great looking Memorial Day Weekend. While it’s an opportunity for a 3 day weekend we need to remember that Memorial Day also holds a profound significance in the hearts of countless individuals. As the warm embrace of late spring envelops the valley, communities across the nation unite to honor the brave souls who selflessly sacrificed their lives in service to their country. It is a solemn occasion, one that summons both sorrowful reflection and a deep appreciation for the indomitable spirit that resides within those who have donned the uniform.
Memorial Day stands as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy left behind by these valiant heroes, forever etching their names in the annals of history and our collective memory. Just something to keep in mind while we flip those burgers.
We want you to make the most out of this weekend and have some great tips for you to follow.
Start with a Schedule – Setting yourself up for a triumphant weekend is as simple as actually making plans. Sounds like a piece of cake, doesn’t it? Yet, in practice, how many folks truly sit down and map out their extra time or even just a measly weekend? It’s like taking those efficiency skills from your job and applying them to wringing the most out of your precious free hours. Now, we’re not talking about meticulously scheduling every teeny-tiny detail. Just get a rough idea of what you want to do and make sure it’s doable. Looking for ideas? There’s always at least 9 different things listed down below.
Tackle ONE thing off your bucket list – Each of us harbors a never-ending bucket list, whether it’s scribbled on paper or meticulously curated on a Pinterest board. It’s a compilation of all the wondrous things we aspire to experience. So here’s a little suggestion: delve into your Instagram saved folder or that treasure trove of ideas on Pinterest. Explore the virtual troves of inspiration you’ve amassed over time. Who knows, you might stumble upon an exciting DIY project or discover a captivating destination.
Take a day trip to somewhere you’ve never been before – Regardless of your location, rest assured that there’s a destination within a day’s drive that awaits your exploration. So, if you’re yearning to escape the confines of home and embark on an adventure, a three-day weekend is the ideal opportunity to seize!
Cook that new recipe or try that restaurant you’ve never been to – We all have that one recipe that has been tantalizing our taste buds for ages. Well, guess what? The perfect moment to whip up that dish you’ve been wistfully daydreaming about has arrived. No more procrastinating with those words, “Ohhh, I really need to make that!” Oh, and don’t just make – Go all in! 100% Only the best ingredients, mise en place… NAIL IT! (and then send us picture to make us jealous!)
If eating out is more your thing, let’s try eating something you’ve never had. We’ve done an incredible amount of food articles on this site. Natali just wrote about Hmong Inspired Street Food, or you could look at Tacos, Burgers, Patio Dining, Food Trucks, Sandwiches, Coffee Shops, Breakfast Places, or Breweries (<= seriously click on those links!) We’ve made it so easy for you to find something incredible.
It’s a win-win situation, no matter which way you slice it!
Digital Detox – That sounds too harsh. Let’s just call it “unplugged”. We couldn’t delve into the topic of optimizing your time without emphasizing the vital need to unplug and rejuvenate your mind. Nothing dampens your enthusiasm quite like the relentless work pressures and the endless scrolling on social media. Let’s face it, living in the moment and being glued to our screens just don’t go hand in hand. So once you’ve completely read this article and then shared it with three of your friends, you have our permission to put the phone down and live your life – if only for the weekend.
FRIDAY:
SATURDAY:
SUNDAY:
12580 E Sussex Way, Sanger, CA
6 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,458 Sq Ft.
Welcome to the Red Hawk gated community! This is an ideal neighborhood to raise a family or enjoy a quiet retirement. This fully landscaped home offers a 5 bedroom, 3 bath main house with a loft on two acres of usable land and 2 oversized two car garages with new windows. New plush carpet and shutters throughout. All new stainless steal LG kitchen appliances including a double oven, which will stay with the house, as well as two mounted TV’s and the washer and dryer. The master bathroom has a large soaking tub and a new closet organizer. Separate from the house there is a Mother in law suite with a private entrance, bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchenette, perfect for extended families or guests! This home is incredibly affordable to maintain with PAID SOLAR and a LOW HOA. iAquaLink runs the pool and the video doorbell. Summer is coming and what’s better than having a swimming pool? Having a Salt Water swimming pool!! Less chemicals and easy on the skin and hair. Jacuzzi tub and a fenced dog kennel with cooling misters. This backyard is built for entertaining. Huge gazebo with two ceiling fans and a TV. Colored lights throughout to make for a fun evening with friends and family while the kids four wheel around the property. Call your agent to schedule a tour TODAY!
https://www.fresyesrealty.com/details.php?mls=45&mlsid=593090
Your Haiku of the Day:
Flags wave, hearts unite,
Honoring those who have fought,
Memorial Day.
It’s been a while since I last wrote a blog post, but you know what they say about riding a bike…it might be a little wobbly.
Today, for your viewing eyeballs, I have the quaint little makeover of my mom and dad’s primary bedroom and bathroom. It’s really more of a refresh since we had an almost non-existent budget to work with and very strong attachments to many of the existing pieces. Let’s start with the befores, shall we?
Please, ignore the clean laundry all over the bed. I took these photos for my own reference, not realizing it would be the last time I saw the bedroom before my dad emptied it all out to refinish the floors on a whim. He did the refinishing himself, and it turned out beautifully.
The room is on the second floor of their Spanish Colonial home, facing northeast – which means it gets beautiful morning light, and then progressively darker through the day. It was painted three different colors (peach walls, green trim, white ceiling, and closet doors), and had a bit of a hodgepodge of styles going on.
It was a little cottage, a little Spanish, and a little Craftsman. So going into this refresh, I wanted the space to feel more cohesive. I also wanted the space to feel warm, relaxing, and very much like my parents. I didn’t want to make the same mistakes I made with their living room, so from the start, they were very involved with every decision. And I took a few design L’s in order to stay true to their wishes.
“You really want to keep the fan instead of adding a beautiful light fixture?”
You got it.
“Dad already installed the bedside sconces, and they’re extremely high and close together?”
I will cringe every time I see them, but as long as y’all are happy.
“You want to use the white Ikea shades that you already bought and installed without consulting me?”
…*deep heavy breathing*
All of that being said, I’ll still find the finished result pretty darn charming.
Warm, relaxing, and still filled with “Ana and Eric” personality. My parents were pretty hyped on the idea of painting the room green when we first started chatting about big impact-low budget ways to really make the room feel new. They’ve never been ones to shy away from color. The design WIN here was convincing my dad that the green paint color needed to go all the way up the ceiling, rather than keeping the ceiling white. The room just has so many angles and lines, I felt that separating the walls and ceiling would make the room feel more chaotic. The color is Sherwin William’s Cucuzza Verde in eggshell, and we accented it with Sherwin William’s Classical White on the closet doors and window trim. It’s a warm creamy white, that doesn’t feel stark against the yellow-green of the walls.
My parents were adamant about keeping all the art and furniture they previously had in the room but were open to reinterpreting where it went. I’ve seen these pieces on their walls since I was a kid, and each one is super special to them. This is my mom’s side of the bed, and where she used to have a bookshelf that wasn’t quite full enough, she now has her heirloom quilts (including the one currently on their bed!) and one of her favorite paintings of a “Madonna and Child”.
My dad’s side of the bed also used to be filled with a bookcase, only his was overflowing and had recently become a favorite scratching post of their adopted-during-quarantine cat siblings. It didn’t take much convincing to have him move all those books to the office, and instead fill his wall with family-created art. A super personal gallery wall consisting of embroidery by his sister, a painting by his niece, and other pieces by me and my brother.
I also want to call out that beautiful stained glass window behind the bed – my dad made it! Just like the big glass tree triptych in their living room (and their front door, which I need to get a good pic of just in case). I had originally thought that we would install a window treatment either over or around it, but my parents insisted that they like waking up to the natural light every morning. That and the fact that my dad installed the sconces we picked out together very high and close to the window. They are very well-installed sconces and are not moving again.
Table Lamp | Vintage Clear Glass Jewelry Box Organizer
I’m actually in love with these matching vintage tallboy and lowboy(?) dressers they own. My mom had always had this gray, plastic jewelry organizer sitting on the tallboy for as long as I could remember. I decided it was time for an update, and got her a gold and glass one instead. We decided to put this cute art piece over the dresser, instead of the large printed canvas portrait that used to be there, and it really brought together the whimsy cottage vibes that my mom likes. It was a gift from my aunt, who hand-colored the hair to match my brother’s and my hair color so that it looked like a watercolor of us.
The vintage mirror over the low dresser used to just lean against the wall, so we decided it was finally time it got hung. Which gave us room to display some more picture frames on the surface instead. And that vintage lamp had been living in a corner of the guest bedroom downstairs for years. They’ve always had it and always wanted to put it somewhere more prominent. Right next to the dresser felt like the perfect display spot, while also being practical.
If you looked carefully, you may have noticed that the knobs on my parent’s nightstands were little birds on branches. These are the kinds of whimsical things that my parents adore, so I decided to keep that theme going with their closet. I found these beautiful brass knobs from a seller on Etsy, and ordered a different forest animal for each closet door. We ended up going for a kind of woodsy theme in the bedroom, which tied in really beautifully with the vintage rug we brought in. It was something I had bought years ago with the hopes of using it in my bedroom, only to discover it was too large. I couldn’t bring myself to cut it down, and just hoarded it knowing one day it would find the perfect home. Now it has.
Curtains | Curtain Rod | Roman Shades | Floor Mirror | Flushmount
Continuing with that woodland theme, I found on-theme drapes covered in little taupe birds on branches. My parents had already installed stark white IKEA roman shades recently, and really loved them. I couldn’t convince them otherwise. But they were still open to keeping drapery on either side of the windows. So we installed a brass curtain rod over the window and added these mainly for aesthetic reasons. They already had a wall mirror in the original room layout, but it was unframed and unattractive. So I sourced this wood arched floor mirror to put there instead, which tied in with the darker wood tones throughout the rest of the room. And a simple linen and brass ceiling light brings that whole corner together.
It was my mom’s suggestion to hang that tiny painting over the mirror and I could not have been more excited/proud. I must truly be her daughter, and she must truly love small paintings in weird places as much as I do. And from here you can peek into the next room we’re going to visit – the primary bath. Shall we?
The primary bath was renovated originally by my dad several years back (they’ve lived in this home since 2000), and mostly without input from my mom while she was away over the summer. This isn’t to say it was BAD, just not quite what she had envisioned. And while we weren’t going to be getting to start from scratch, we were definitely going to take it in a direction that tied it in with the primary a bit more.
Here’s where we started – kind of a 50s meets Craftsman style, with bright teal walls that almost, but not quite, matched the glass tiles my dad installed. The vanity was fairly new, an amazing Reformation Home piece they found used on Craigslist. So the things we could change were the paint, lighting, and accessories.
Welcome to their new-ish bathroom. A lighter, brighter, and cleaner version of its former self. We carefully selected a paint color that truly complemented the floor tiles – Sherwin William’s Topiary Tint, which brought a really beautiful calm to the space. The trim is the same Sherwin William’s Classical White as the bedroom, so that the door and trim that touched between the two spaces seamlessly flowed into one another.
Dragonfly Wall Hooks | Shower Curtain
To keep that woodland theme going between the two rooms, I found these silver dragonfly wall hooks, which we installed as towel hooks next to the shower. And the floral and bird shower curtains tie in both with the bathroom color scheme and the birds sprinkled throughout both rooms.
“MORE BIRDS” my mother screamed, in a fit of bird-fueled hysteria. She didn’t, that would have been terrifying. But there are more birds. This piece fits perfectly in their bathroom and is really where I took a lot of inspiration for both rooms from. It’s a vintage piece my late aunt whitewashed and decoupaged while she was living with my parents. When she passed away, my mom kept it and moved it in here. Please note the bird knobs. It’s a really sentimental piece, and also very kitsch in the best way. I organized my mom’s make-up into this glass and gold organizer, which matches the one on her tall boy (directly opposite this piece, in the bedroom).
First person to spot the litter box wins a cat! Actually, if you spotted it that probably means you already have at least two of your own. Yes, the litter box lives in their bathroom. This is reality. But it’s nicely hidden in the corner! We swapped out the previously installed wall sconces with these more elegant ones, and added another dragonfly towel hook next to the sink. Small changes for big impact.
And there you have it folks – a quick bedroom and bathroom refresh that make all the difference. Some new wall paint, some new light fixtures, and a reorganizing of art are really the three biggest changes we made. But of course, it’s all about the details – the heirloom quilts, the family art, the vintage pieces sourced over years. My parents are really wonderful collectors, and I think these two rooms truly represent that. They just needed a little help bringing it all together in a cohesive way.
*Design and Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
The post Let Sara Show You How She Refreshed Her Parent’s Bedroom And Bath (With Almost NO BUDGET) appeared first on Emily Henderson.
]]>How to store cans is always hotly debated on by home organizers. While there are a lot of storage ideas out there, sometimes the most effective solution is the simplest. Consider organizing your stock of canned food in can racks or wire baskets, just like what Emily from Eleven Gables did.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWJD0qxFRt8/
Never forget an item on your shopping list again. By either gluing thin chalkboards cut to fit your pantry doors or painting the doors themselves with chalkboard paint, you’ll have an evergreen inventory, grocery list, and to-do list greeting you each morning! We have Decorating Cents to thank for this awesome organization idea.
One of the chief clutter culprits in your kitchen? Half-eaten bags of chips. While your restraint not to eat the whole bag in one go is admirable, it still doesn’t solve the problem of how they can be stored efficiently and in the most organized way. Enter this ingenious hack from Lookie What I Did—simply install a short rail and a row of clips inside your kitchen cabinet or pantry. With this, you can easily clip the bag of chips neatly in a row.
Smaller pantries bear the burden of having to make every square inch work. Make good use of the wasted space in the inner corner of your pantry by installing pencil holders from the dollar store to hold all the smaller tins and bottles. The post by Domestic Imperfection can walk you through this organization idea.
All these mistakes are easy to make, especially when you get just as excited as I do in giving my basement a make… https://t.co/DQ7T5QDODn
— DIY Projects (@DIYProjectsCom) October 24, 2017
If you’ve decided to make kitchen pantry organization a priority project this year, why not completely redo your pantry? Assess the kind of storage you truly need and build around your requirements. Installing cubby holes that perfectly fit your baskets and trays, partitions, and slide-out shelves are all easily achievable with proper planning and careful measurement. Get tips on how to reorganize your pantry with this post from Clean Mama.
Oversized lidded glass jars are every organized homemaker’s must-have. As you can see in this organization tip by Design Improvised, the large glass jars are not just stylish but also very functional. Make glass jars an essential feature of your kitchen pantry organization by attaching chalkboard labels on them. Everyone in the family will easily find what they’re looking for and you’ll also know when you’re running low on something at a glance.
When it comes to kitchen pantry organization, corners are always a bone of contention. They easily become black holes for cans, condiments, and other bulk items that never see the light of day again. Consider hooking up your pantry with some lazy susans, just like this idea from Burlap & Denim. You end up storing more items at the same time making them accessible.
Where would we be without the indispensable over-the-door shoe organizer? Bring one in the kitchen to level up your kitchen pantry organization like what this post by Many Makings suggests. The clear pockets make it easy to stash and find snacks, soup mixes, and bottles of condiments, among others. Your kids won’t need to rummage through your pantry for an after-school snack anymore.
If you’re constantly rummaging through the dark depths of your pantry shelves, why not consider installing slide-out shelves? Check out Remodelando la Casa's post and get some ideas on how to do this yourself. With a bit of woodworking, you’ll be able to access the deepest recesses of your pantry in one fluid motion!
Your tiered bathroom caddy can do double duty as a kitchen pantry organization tool as what The Frugal Homemaker suggests. Unload your chips, snacks, and other small pantry items from your shelves and store them here instead. This way, they’re always within arm’s reach on the kitchen counter, or already on display for when guests come by your home.
Bust out your tools and make this amazing rotating can system by Lacquer and Lace. You'll be able to readily access whatever canned food you need as well as do a quick inventory of your supplies at a glance. Doesn't the image of these extremely well-organized can system make your heart sing?
I am inspired by what this crafty mama from The Yummy Life did! She figured out how much extra floor space she had in her kitchen and came up with a whole new pantry—an extension if you will. This plain cabinet was then filled with the right-size baskets to add a whole new place to store her dry goods. And the best part about it is her TV fits perfectly atop the cabinet, making this pantry a great multi-tasker!
I just love how doable and simple this pegboard pantry organizer by Arts & Crackers is! I can see how this can work in a kitchen—just hang it on a cabinet door or a vacant space on the wall. If you want, you can customize it by adding more organizers or making it prettier with paint.
Looking for even more inspiration? Take a look at this video by MissLizHeart for more kitchen pantry organization ideas:
Every homemaker’s dream is to have a well-stocked, well-equipped, and optimally organized kitchen. Be it a little nook we are making do in our first rental or the majestic, marble-countered playground we’ve always wanted, kitchen pantry organization will always be an essential part of keeping house.
Aren’t all of these kitchen pantry organization ideas awesome? Which project made you go, “Eureka!”? Let us know in the comments section below!
Up Next: DIY Laundry Room Organization Ideas and Tips
Stay connected with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!
Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in December 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
]]>No gatekeeping here: We’re sharing all the travel essentials that will make your experience a little more enjoyable. Whether you’re a beginner traveler or a frequent flyer, these are the travel essentials everyone should take with them. Add these to your packing list for your next trip to travel like a pro!
Prefer to have your luggage with you at all times? We don't blame you. This carry-on makes running through the airport a total breeze with its smooth wheels and comfortable handle. Bonus: it has a USB port built into it that will charge your electronics for you, which means no more sitting on the airport floor outside the bathroom to reach the only available outlet.
6 colors available
This genius suitcase has a built-in weight detector, so you never have to stress about packing too much. Instead of pulling out your bathroom scale in a panic, all you have to do is lift the bag by the handle and a small tab will turn green or red. Green means pack that extra outfit and red means it's time to edit. This suitcase also has two inches of optional expansion, compression straps, and dividers with pockets, so you're truly ready for anything.
9 colors available
One of the biggest challenges of travel is fitting everything you want to bring into one suitcase. These packing cubes will help you do it with ease—and a lot more organization.
10+ colors available
Designed with three zippered compartments and tons of interior pockets, this weekender can fit everything you need for a mini getaway. For a longer trip, loop it onto the handle of your suitcase and use it as your personal item. You can also carry it on-hand, over-the-shoulder, or as a crossbody.
If you're looking for a little more organization than a standard duffel, this option is perfect for you. Just to name a few of the features: it is water-resistant, has a padded laptop insert, and features a separate zippered compartment for your shoes. This bag is the definition of traveling smart.
9 colors available
This leather tote will be your new favorite accessory both for travel and your day-to-day life. The only tote you'll ever need, it can fit all your essentials (including a laptop).
8 colors available
One of the hardest parts of traveling is staying organized—the best intentions can turn into rummaging through a purse full of wrappers and knotted earphones in the search for your boarding pass. This organizer fits into your bag to keep all of your essentials visible and easily accessible. Genius.
10+ colors available
This hanging makeup bag eliminates having to dig through the deepest depths of a giant, unorganized makeup bag that's usually travel protocol. You'll be able to see everything you brought with you and avoid your foundation opening and leaking all over everything you brought.
10 colors available
If you're the type to travel with a whole arsenal of beauty products, you're going to want one of these. The zippered case is lined with a special material that helps keep your beauty products at a safe temperature, so you can feel confident bringing your full skincare routine along.
Gone are the days when all of your necklaces end up tangled in a knot. This high-quality velvet organizer is a life-saver for keeping all your favorite pieces safe when you travel.
9 colors available
Avoid the added stress of misplacing your electronics during your travel day. Keep them safe in this universal case that stores and protects small electronics, power adapters, and memory cards.
10+ colors available
These magnetic capsules are the perfect alternative to all the travel-sized toiletries floating in your bag. Store everything from face serums to dainty jewelry and never worry about them getting lost or leaking.
8 colors available
This sleep mask does the impossible: makes plane sleep an option—yes, even if you're in the middle seat.
7 colors available
We love AirPods for many reasons while traveling, but we especially appreciate their ability to connect on their own. This is essential for when you're too busy or don't have an extra hand to connect your Bluetooth.
You shouldn't have to listen to music on the highest volume to drown out the sounds around you. These comfortable and wireless headphones are perfect for sleep, noise sensitivity, and flights.
3 colors available
Travel often includes carrying lots of cards and currency, which means easy organization and accessibility is a must. This wallet can fit easily into your bag while keeping all of your cards tucked neatly into one place.
10+ colors available
A portable charger is an absolute must for travel. Keep this in your purse and never worry about your phone dying before the plane takes off again.
6 colors available
Quickly charge your phone, AirPods, or iPad with this extra long charging cord to avoid having to sit awkwardly on the floor next to an outlet.
5 colors available
If you have trouble sleeping on a flight, you will love this sleeping mask. Its lightweight and comfortable design makes it easy to fall asleep and listen to your favorite tunes (or white noise) at the same time.
This is at the forefront of our holy grail skincare, and we absolutely can't live without it during travel. Lather this mask on when you get on the airplane, and kiss dry, tired travel skin goodbye.
Airplanes are breeding grounds for germs that turn into colds and ruin your trip. Cut your losses and carry these individual packs of hand wipes with you for the moments you could use a hand wash but don't want to run to the tiny airplane bathroom.
If we hadn't Amazon-Primed these to ourselves, we'd think they were the high-end ones we usually shell out much more cash for. These are the most comfortable, versatile leggings you'll ever own. Kiss your high-end leggings goodbye.
10+ colors available
These super comfortable slip-on sneakers are perfect for travel—they're lightweight, easy to pack, and won't give you any pesky heel blisters.
4 colors available
Our editors can't stop raving about how comfortable these shoes are. They are perfect for trips when your itinerary is filled with walking. Or just wear these in the airport in case you need to run to catch your flight. Either way, you'll love how lightweight and comfortable these shoes are.
10+ colors available
Suitcases and carry-ons mean wrinkly clothes, no matter how you fold them. Never deal with a broken hotel room iron again and meet your new best friend: this travel-sized, handheld steamer.
You don't need to sacrifice amazing hair while you're traveling. This mini hair dryer packs the same punch as a full-size but is tiny enough to fit in your carry-on.
This pouch doubles as a travel case for your hot tools and a heat-resistant mat, so you'll never be caught swiping the hotel hand towels again. Plus, the interior features zippered and open pockets to help organize all your hair accessories in one place.
The post The Travel Essentials Our Editors Swear By appeared first on The Everygirl.
]]>That's a savings of $40. Buy Now at eBay
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There’s no better feeling than finding a pair of jeans that fits just right. Well, actually, there is one: knowing that all the extra scrap denim from the factory is going to good use. As a part of its second global social entrepreneurship collection, dubbed MÄVINN, IKEA collaborated with Vietnam-based company Saitex, which trains and employs people with different abilities and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, to make chic home products out of pre-consumer textile waste.
“Denim is so durable, super long lasting, and it gets more beautiful the more you use it,” says Paulin Machado, who oversaw the creation of the collection with fellow IKEA designer Maria Vinka. A handy wall organizer with plenty of pockets was a natural fit for the assortment. “We’re both craftspeople so for us it’s important to have a place for stuff like big scissors and pens,” adds Machado.
The 43-inch long hanging storage staple will retail for a mere $20 once the full line hits stores and the website this June (the MÄVINN collection as a whole consists of 20 handmade items from seven different social good businesses across Asia). And while you can definitely use it for miscellaneous art supplies and tools, an organizer like this works wonders on the back of a bathroom door (your Dyson hair dryer will fit snugly inside) or as a catchall for sunglasses, belts, and small bags.
Other denim gems include a hardworking apron, which Vinka points out can be used in the kitchen, garage, or garden, and a striped cushion cover. Machado is also loving how the woven pendant shades turned out—they’re made out of 100 percent banana fiber from India. “When they harvest bananas, they’re left with the whole trunk and the bark,” she explains. “Through different processes, they’re able to make it into thin strips that can be braided.” When the waste bin is a little less full, our homes are a lot happier.
The post A Pair of Perfect-Fitting Jeans Is Nice, But IKEA’s Upcycled Denim Organizer Is Better appeared first on domino.
]]>College dorms are a rite of passage for many students entering their first year of college. Dorm life is an exciting, nerve-wracking, and sometimes an overwhelming experience. Living in a dorm can be a great way to make friends, learn new things, and gain independence. However, living in a small, shared space can also present some challenges. As you prepare for your college dorm experience, it’s important to consider what to bring to your college dorm to make the most of your space and create a comfortable living environment. There are a lot of items to consider when packing for your new home. In this article, we will explore some of the best college dorms and what to bring to your college dorm to ensure a successful and enjoyable dorm life experience.
Here’s some food for thought! Have you ever considered spending the best years of your life in college towns that are hidden gems? You’ll enjoy various perks, such as more spacious dorms with the latest smart gadgets. Plus, you’ll get the chance to stand out from the crowd as the teacher-student ratio is more advantageous than in major colleges.
Starting college is an exciting adventure, but it can also be daunting. Especially when it comes to efficient and time-saving packing for your college dorm. It’s important to bring only the essentials to your new living space, so you can maximize your limited space and create a comfortable home away from home. Remember, dorms can be roomier and cozier in little-known colleges with great potentials, such as Hendrix College in Conway, AR, or St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA!
Knowing what to bring to college dorm can make a big difference in your dorm life experience. So, whether you’re a first-time college student or a veteran, let’s find out what you need to bring with you to make your experience better.
Your bed is where you’ll spend a lot of time in your dorm, so it’s important to have comfortable bedding. A comfortable and cozy bed is a must-have for a good night’s sleep. Bring along sheets, pillows, a comforter, and a mattress pad to make your bed as comfortable as possible. If you’re short on space, consider using storage bags that compress your bedding to save space. Did you know that you can improvise your own DIY bed? Moreover, a bedroom repaint is also a good idea if the college administration allows it!
When it comes to packing clothes, it’s best to bring a mix of comfortable and dressy outfits. You’ll need casual clothes for everyday wear, such as t-shirts, shorts, jeans, and sweatpants. Additionally, bring some nicer clothes for special occasions, such as a job interview or a formal event. Your overall appearance can be the key to success!
Don’t forget to pack some comfortable shoes as well, such as sneakers or sandals. It’s important to consider the weather when deciding what to bring to the college dorm. If you’re moving to a colder climate, pack warm clothes like jackets, scarves, and hats. If you’re moving to a warmer climate, pack lighter clothes like shorts, t-shirts, and sunhats. Most dorm rooms have limited closet and drawer space, so it’s best to bring clothes that can be easily folded or hung. Consider using vacuum-sealed bags to save space and keep your clothes fresh.
Personal hygiene is essential, and it’s important to have all the necessary toiletries. Pack a shower caddy to make it easy to transport your toiletries to and from the communal bathroom. Bring all the basics such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and deodorant. Consider bringing a small mirror and a hairdryer, too. Don’t forget about the little things that make a big difference, like razors, shaving cream, and feminine hygiene products. If you wear contacts, pack your solution and a spare pair of glasses. And, of course, bring plenty of towels and washcloths.
Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to live without electronics. First and foremost, bring a laptop or tablet for your academic needs, your personal home office must-haves. Most colleges require students to complete assignments online, so having a reliable device is essential. Plus, they’re indispensable tools for acquiring knowledge and skills.
Don’t forget to pack your charger, too! If you’re a music lover, bring a portable speaker or headphones to enjoy your tunes without disturbing your roommates. Other essential electronics to consider include a power strip, surge protector, and extension cords. These items will help you keep all your devices charged and organized while also reducing clutter. However, be mindful of your dorm’s electronics policy. Some colleges have restrictions on certain devices, such as mini-fridges or space heaters. Be sure to check with your dorm administrator before packing.
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4. Live customer support/No robo calls
Knowing what to bring to a college dorm when it comes to desk supplies is essential for academic success. Bring a good quality desk lamp. This will not only help you study more efficiently but also create a comfortable and welcoming environment in your room. Additionally, a desk calendar or planner can help you stay on top of your assignments and schedule. Other essential desk supplies include pens, pencils, highlighters, markers, and erasers. Don’t forget to bring a stapler, tape, and paper clips as well. You may also want to consider investing in a printer or scanner for your academic needs. If you’re taking classes that require textbooks, bring bookends or a bookshelf to keep them organized and easily accessible. And, of course, don’t forget about your calculator and any other academic tools you may need. Consider bringing some personal touches to your desk to make it feel like home. A small plant, picture frame, or inspirational quote can make a big difference in creating a comfortable and inviting workspace.
Dorm rooms can be small, so it’s important to bring creative storage solutions to keep your space organized. One of the best ways to maximize space in your dorm room is by bringing storage containers. Consider investing in plastic bins or under-bed storage containers to keep your belongings organized on a budget and out of the way. You may also want to bring some hangers and a hanging organizer for your closet.
Another great storage solution is a set of shelves or a bookcase. These items can help you keep your books, papers, and other belongings organized and easily accessible. Don’t forget to bring some decorative baskets or storage boxes to add some style to your room while keeping things tidy. If you’re sharing a dorm room with a roommate, it’s important to coordinate storage solutions and make sure everyone has their own designated space. You may want to consider bringing a room divider or curtain to create some separation and privacy.
Make your dorm feel like home. Firstly, consider bringing some posters or wall art to add some personality and color to your room. You can also bring some string lights or a lamp to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Plants are also a great way to add some life and vibrancy to your dorm room. You can choose a small plant that’s easy to care for, such as a succulent or cactus, or opt for a larger plant to make a statement. Other decorative items to consider bringing include a rug, curtains, and some framed photos or artwork. These items can help add warmth and comfort to your dorm room while also reflecting your personal style. Adding a dash of Hygge lifestyle elements could boost overall appearances.
When it comes to what to bring to college dorm, it’s important to remember that less is more. You won’t have a lot of space so only bring what you really need. Focus on essentials and bring only a few personal items to make your space feel like home.
College dorms are often depicted as cramped and dreary spaces. However, some universities, especially in the best US states for education, go above and beyond to create the best possible living spaces for their students. From spacious rooms to modern amenities, these top-tier dorms are sure to make you feel right at home. You might also want to look into the best hidden gems in American education for providing an extra cozy atmosphere.
But even in the best college towns in 2023, it’s important to know what to bring to your college dorm to make your space your own. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the best college dorms in the country.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, is considered one of the mightiest college towns in the United States. It also hosts the renowned University of Michigan. Its North Quadrangle dorm is a popular choice for students who want a modern and well-equipped space. Each room comes with a private bathroom, air conditioning, and a mini-fridge. The dorm also boasts a café, fitness center, and a language lab. When packing for North Quad, make sure to bring your workout clothes, textbooks, and of course, some snacks to store in your mini-fridge.
This dorm is perfect for students who want to be in the center of the action. Located near the campus’s dining hall and student center, you’ll never be far from anything you need. The rooms are spacious and come with an updated kitchenette, so you can prepare your own meals if you’d like. When packing for Hedrick Summit, make sure to bring your favorite cooking utensils, a few pots and pans, and plenty of non-perishable food items.
Another popular dorm option. This dorm is known for its size, as it can house up to 3,000 students. But don’t let the size fool you; the rooms are spacious and well-maintained. Each room comes with a microwave and mini-fridge, so you can easily prepare small meals and snacks. When packing for Jester East, make sure to bring some easy-to-make meals like instant noodles or canned soup, as well as a few microwavable containers.
This dorm is a tech-lover’s dream come true. Each room is equipped with a voice-activated assistant, adjustable LED lighting, and high-speed Wi-Fi. In other words, it contains everything a smart home requires. The dorm also features a 3D printing lab, music practice rooms, and a gaming center. When packing for Tooker House, make sure to bring your favorite gaming console, a good pair of headphones, and plenty of snacks to keep you fueled during those marathon gaming sessions.
Living in a college dorm can be an exciting and memorable experience. It’s important to be prepared and know what to bring to a college dorm to make the most of your space. There are plenty of items that can help you feel at home in your new environment. And while every college dorm is different, some universities have truly exceptional living spaces that make the college experience even more enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for spacious rooms, modern amenities, or a tight-knit community, there’s a college dorm out there that’s perfect for you. So, start making your list of what to bring to a college dorm, and get ready for an unforgettable college experience in one of the best dorm colleges around!
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]]>More than ever, homeowners are designing all-drawer IKEA kitchens, which means drawer organization is more important than ever. With hundreds of organizing options to choose from, where do you start?
If you have an IKEA kitchen, it makes sense to start at IKEA. However, many of our customers want to avoid settling for the first organizer they come across. Rev-A-Shelf’s line of innovative drawers and drawer organizers provides more function and usable storage space than the IKEA alternatives.
Find out why IKD customers prefer Rev-A-Shelf’s drawer organizers over IKEA’s in the article below.
For our customers who believe the double knife block has too much storage, we also design with a Rev-A-Shelf insert that holds 19 knives (4WKB-1) and an ultra-convenient knife-holder/cutting board combo (4KCB-419HFLSC-1) that holds about eight knives.
“When we were discussing our design goals with IKD, we mentioned wanting to have less stuff on the counters in our new kitchen. We knew drawer inserts existed for knives and spice jars because IKEA had them, but they were so small. Albert designed a whole organizational system using Rev-A-Shelf. We were sold.” –Tessa, IKD customer
UPPDATERA is a small tray insert, available in white plastic or bamboo. The average width of a spice jar is about two inches, meaning you can fit about twelve spices in one UPPDATERA tray. If you only stock the basics, that size might be right for you. However, most of our customers prefer to spice things up, and Rev-A-Shelf’s insert holds up to 48 jars.
“One of our favorite Rev-A-Shelf inserts is the spice rack. It’s so much easier to open a drawer and see all of the jars than search through a cabinet or spice rack on the counter. IKD gave us exactly what we wanted, and I don’t hate cooking anymore.” –Fred, IKD customer
Still, most of our customers prefer a functional design solution that looks like it was custom built for the drawer. We turn to Rev-A-Shelf, which has cutlery and utensil trays made of maple and walnut. Depending on the size of your drawer, you can combine multiple RAS inserts, like the knife block insert, spice insert, or even a stainless-steel foil insert (4FWI-16SS-1). The Wood Cutlery Tray Insert (4WCT-1) comes in multiple sizes and is also designed to be trimmed to fit the width of your drawer.
None of IKEA’s trays offer this level of functionality or cohesion.
“We updated our kitchen, and we had the budget left over to update our organizers, too. IKD handled that part of the design process for us. We had no idea they could provide internal organization designs, and we were very impressed. We didn’t want to build this nice, new kitchen just to end up with messy drawers. Rev-A-Shelf’s cutlery organizers make the drawers look like they were built just for us.” –Marie, IKD customer
While kitchens may always be the most popular rooms for IKEA’s SEKTION cabinet and MAXIMERA drawer designs, your home office will benefit from the tidy storage and sense of calm that Rev-A-Shelf brings to IKEA designs.
We enjoy utilizing the following drawer inserts in our IKEA home office designs:
The bathroom is another area where Rev-A-Shelf and IKEA shine. We organize MAXIMERA drawers for the bathroom in several ways with the help of Rev-A-Shelf.
Here are three RAS bathroom products we love:
Comment “IKEA’s organizers satisfy the basics, but we feel that if you’re upgrading your kitchen, you should also upgrade how you organize your kitchen. There are better, more innovative alternatives to the basic kitchen utensil tray and spice storage that takes up too much counter or cabinet space. Rev-A-Shelf makes kitchen tasks easier, and that gives you more time and energy to enjoy your home.” –Mike from IKD
Work with our certified kitchen designers to get a personalized kitchen designed around your needs and vision. If you’re interested in learning more about our service, make sure to check out our IKEA Kitchen Design Services.
A concealer that covers dark circles and does double duty as an eyeshadow primer
From CB: I heard about this concealer in this YouTube video from creator Lisa Monique on makeup mistakes women over 50 make. Two of her mistakes are not using primer on your eyelids and not using coverup/concealer (watch at minutes 7 and 15). She actually uses Elf 16 hour camo concealer for her eyelids and under her eyes. This concealer comes in 22 colors, all at just $7. It has almost 49,000 reviews, 4.3 stars and a B on Fakespot. Reviewers rave about how great it is at concealing undereye circles and say it lasts all day. “I love this concealer. I need something that is thick and covers my dark circles. I am an older female with bags and dark circles and this does the job.” “This is a great concealer, and the price is right! I used to use Clinique concealer for years, but the price now makes it harder to buy. This concealer applies easily, dries quickly, and stays on!”
A cordless wet dry vacuum that people rave about
From CB: I’m featuring this vacuum, which is pricey as hell, because I want to get your experiences with it. I keep reading about the Tineco wet dry vacuum and definitely want one to clean up after my German Shepherd. There is the higher end $450 model One S5 and the one pictured above is the more affordable $280 iFloor 3 Breeze model. The higher end model has 2,400 ratings, 4.4 stars and an A on Fakespot. The more affordable one has 23,000 ratings, 4.5 stars and a B on Fakespot. Based on the reviews, the battery for the cheaper one does not last as long. Here are some reviews for the pricier model. “My floors were just cleaned 3 days ago with my Bissell Crosswave. The dog had spotted the floor with some drool so I thought I would test out my new S5. Well, I tried it on auto for the main part of the floor, and on max for the drool areas, and it pulled up a ton of dirt from the floor. I was amazed.” “I have a dog who fur sheds like crazy and she tracks in dirt. I would mop and vacuum and it still felt sandy. But after one mopping holy cow what a difference. It doesn’t feel sandy anymore.”
Suction cup metal-look hooks to upgrade your space without damaging the walls
From CB: These classy hooks apply with suction to smooth walls and with an included adhesive disk to wood or porous walls. You get two in a choice of four different plastic metal-look finishes for under $19. They’re waterproof and rust proof. They would be a great addition to a bathroom, bedroom or anywhere you need extra hanging storage. Plus they’re so much nicer than command hooks. These have almost 3,000 ratings, 4.5 stars and an A on Fakespot. People say they’re easy to install, stay stuck to the wall and look great. “I have one of these on either side of my shower glass (so you can’t see from either side that there is a suction component). It fits seamlessly in my modern matte black bathroom and has held up for a month on both the wet and dry sides.” “This hook adhered to our shower tile perfectly. The directions were simple and gosh it looks like an expensive hook we bought for our former home that was way more expensive and had to be installed by our tiler.”
Facial towelettes for clearer, softer skin
From CB: These facial towelettes by Clean Skin Club are a soft, hygienic alternative to washcloths and towels, which can harbor bacteria. You can cut them to use them more than once and they’re gentler than paper towels and safe for sensitive skin. You get 50 towels for under $18. These have over 11,00 reviews, 4.7 stars and a B on Fakespot. People say that they’re great at removing makeup and leave their skin soft and healthy. “I wasn’t sure if these we’re truly necessary but after hearing 2 different aestheticians recommend them I knew I needed to try. I’ve had my box for about 6 weeks and have only needed to use half of them. They are so big and so great at absorbing water that I can get 1-2 uses out of half of a towelette. It seems silly to say that my face does truly feel shockingly more clean after using one of these vs. a wash cloth to simply dry the water from my freshly washed face but it actually does!” “This item is great for travel, sensitive skin, make-up removal, and overall health of the skin for your face.”
A makeup organizer you’ll wish you bought sooner
From Hecate: I had to replace the dresser that held my makeup drawer so I took the opportunity to reorganize my makeup. I wanted something very specific for my makeup brushes and found it and have to admit, I am very pleased. I wanted something that I could put my brushes in at a slant so I could see them easily but they’d fit in the new, shallower drawer. I found this little 7.6″D x 4.1″W x 9.6″H organizer that has the slanted spot for brushes and palettes. I only bought one but I’m considering a second for my liners and blushes. it’s just a really handy little piece and not only does the the slant help fit in drawers, it makes it easier to access the items. One unit normally costs $15 but they are on sale for $12. This one is rated with 4.6 stars, but not many people have reviewed it. However, those who have said really nice things about it, “This little organizer can be used in a lot of ways. I use another one for organizing my desktop items as you can see in the picture.” One note, it does only hold thin palettes, “It holds lots of stuffs, my lipsticks , brushes, makeup pencils, etc. however it only fits my slim eye shadow palettes.” But it’s small enough you could fit a second organizer for larger palettes.
A vibrant and versatile eyeshadow palette for you or mom
From Hecate: Since I have a new makeup drawer, now I want new makeup! And look at that, NYX Professional is having a sale just in time for Mother’s day. They have five beautiful palette to chose from, normally $18, but this week some are on sale for $13.And you can save even more if you want to do their subscribe and save option. Each palette comes with 16 shades, both matte and glitter. I’m in trouble because I kind of want all of them. I really like the Utopia colors, though. Also, NYX is not tested on animals. Over 31,000 people rated these eyeshadows with 4.6 stars. People love how the colors hold up, “SO pigmented!! These pallets have never failed me- the pigments have always been amazing.” And they’re constructed well too, “Love the texture and richness. Easy to apply and lasts all day long.” People also love the variety and durability.
Comfy fancy slippers for mom
From Hecate: You cannot go wrong with slippers for mom on Mother’s Day. I know it’s cliché, but opening a good pair of fuzzy slippers on a Sunday morning is a lovely thing. These are not only fuzzy, they’re fancy too. And they come in a dozen color options so you can get just the right choice for your mom. Not only does the sole have faux fur, there’s memory foam underneath so these are guaranteed to be some of the most comfortable slippers ever. And not too hot for this time of year because they are slip on not not full shoes. Normally they run almost $30 but they are on sale for $23 and Amazon is offering an additional 10% coupon. Plus they’ll get to you in time for Mother’s Day. Over 31,000 people gave these 4.6 stars and Fakespot gave them a B. These are super soft, “The first time I put them on, I could feel my whole body relax because they felt SOOOO good! OH MY GOSH the texture!” Not just soft, but strong too, “Really happy with these slippers! The bottom sole is sturdy and thick, but the inside is still plush.”
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]]>My dear friends, it’s high time I share my home office tour with you! This tour has been a long time coming. Mr. Tidbits and I finished this space a while ago, but it’s been going through a series of tweaks while we sorted out how to best utilize this new home office space.
You see, this office is an addition to our home. I give full details about how this small home office came to be in my YouTube video on this space, but let’s just say that once we built our home, we found that we needed more space for
A: a mudroom/drop zone and
B: a distraction free workspace for myself and Mr. Tidbits.
So, we set out to design a home office and mudroom addition off of our existing living room.
I shared our mudroom reveal with you recently. Today, the shared home office is finally getting its day in the sun. I’d love to walk you through the major design elements of this room and share some of my favorite small home office ideas.
Structure first, right? At least that’s what Mr. Tidbits says, so that’s where we started with this room. We drafted a floor plan for this office that was designed to give it plenty of natural light. We opted for large windows on two of our exterior walls.
Our window shades filter the bright sunlight behind the computer screen and I prefer them over traditional blinds. The abundant natural light is a one of my favorite elements in this room. We rarely need overhead lighting in here. When the light is low outside, we switch on our desk lamp.
We decided to install some faux beams in our new home office. The beams give this space a touch of old-world character. We stained the beams to match the beautiful walnut cabinets in this office.
The paint in this room is another one of my favorite elements. Do you remember when we painted the rest of our house? I did a review of the Pure and Original paint that we used. I adored the textured look it gave us and wanted to do something similar in this space.
Mr. Tidbits used a special technique using baking soda and water to give our wall paint a faux concrete/plaster look. Checkout our YouYube video for more details. It’s hard to photograph, but I love the warm, antique look of these walls.
Flooring was an important element in this shared office room. I’ve been dreaming of having a black and white marble floor for so long. Over the years I’ve collected quite a few checkerboard flooring ideas. We finally made my flooring dreams come true when we chose this gorgeous black and white marble set in a harlequin or diagonal checkerboard arrangement. No rugs here! I want to see this beautiful floor.
I love checkerboard flooring so much that I did an entire blog series about it! If you’d like to learn more about how to design a checkerboard floor and how to chose the correct size tile for a checkerboard floor, you check out my past blog posts for all the details.
To keep this narrow home office layout from feeling closed in, we built open shelving along of one of our office walls. We utilized our vertical space by building these shelves all the way up to the ceiling.
I wanted this small space to feel airy and light and I think that the open shelving certainly helps achieve that. It gives us a place for both decor and storage.
The arches along the top row are one of my favorite parts of this room. The little alcoves they create are totally charming. We put a piece of our favorite pottery in each alcove. I love the bit of romance that they add.
Our home office cabinets were custom built for this space by Mr. Tidbits. Of course, we chose to build them out of our current favorite, walnut wood. The natural color is a soothing compliment to the marble floor and stone countertops.
There is no closet in this room, so these cabinets provide some essential storage space. We keep these cabinets stocked with things like office supplies, sewing materials, and our printer. Having some cabinets or cupboards with doors really helps cut down on clutter and keeps the rest of the room looking tidy.
Next up we have countertops. We honed these countertops out of remnants we picked up from a local supplier. You can find out how we hone and install countertops by reading our tutorial. It’s definitely worth the work to be able to have stone counters for a fraction for the price!
If you look closely, you’ll notice that we used two different types of stone in this room. The wall with the open shelving has a quartz countertop, and the wall with our desks has a marble countertop. I love how well the they play together, but I also like the subtle difference that helps set these two areas apart. I think it’s a charming touch.
The shared desk was made by placing our honed marble countertop across two wooden file folder cabinets.
You can be sure that we make good use of the file folder cabinet drawers to store our project information and important documents. Creating our own large, custom desk for this space was a huge money saver!
Now that I’ve shared the major main design elements of this room, I want to share some of my best tips for creating a small home office that you will love.
My first tip is to choose a desk chair that you will love. Office furniture can be tricky to shop for. I don’t always love the way desk chairs look, but they’re an important part of a functional workspace. Mr. Tidbits and I spend a lot of time working in this room and therefore, a lot of time sitting in these office chairs.
I tried several office chairs before settling of these beauties. I wanted chairs that could deliver both comfort and style for this room. I’ve been happy with how these chairs have performed in both areas. These linen covered chairs add softness and warmth to our desk space.
My next tip is to make the very most of your small home office space. If you, like me, want your office to be both beautiful and functional, I recommend taking advantage of any opportunity to blend storage and style. Look for decorative elements that can serve a functional purpose.
In this small office, we’ve had to get creative. We used a decorative basket for our office waste basket. We’ve also got baskets of yarn and fabric. I have some lovely linen boxes that hold paint samples and art supplies. Get creative and see how you can create storage solutions with the decorative items in your home!
We’ve also repurposed some thrift and antique store finds into organization tools for our desk area. My favorite cubby sorter holds stationary, my secret chocolate stash (don’t tell!) and other office accessories.
Mr. Tidbit’s antique table-top bookshelf holds boxes to sort his office supplies and documents. The antique letter holders above our desk are the perfect place for us to sort our important mail. I love having storage solutions that look like decor.
I believe that your home office should be a space that you truly enjoy. I wanted this shared office to reflect the personalities of both myself and my husband. To do this, I tried to add elements that represented both of us. My side of the desk holds that chippy blue antique organizer I mentioned above. I’ve also got a darling country-themed calendar that just speaks to my homestead loving soul.
My husband’s side of the desk has more dark colors and wood tones. His workstation holds his tabletop antique bookshelf. Mr. Tidbits has also displayed a few nick knacks with special significance that he’s collected over the years.
I love seeing both of us represented in this space. I also know that my work days are more enjoyable when I love my surroundings. I’d encourage you to look for ways to personalize your space to bring you joy.
Lastly, remember to bring items into your home office that inspire you. Personally, I love art. I have some framed pieces of meaningful artwork that I placed in this space to inspire me. I keep a bolt of linen fabric in here because I’m always working on new ideas for my Tidbits Linen product line. Whenever possible, I also love bringing fresh flowers into this space for a bit of inspiration.
Over on Mr. Tidbit’s side, we hung his engineering degree certificate on the wall. He loves the outdoors so we added a plant to bring a touch of nature to his space. And of course, Mr. Tidbits and I both have a Tidbits Planner on our desk. I find that putting my ideas on paper always gives me lots of inspiration.
At the end of the day, I’m really happy with this little office nook of mine. Having a home office area that is separate from our living area is a luxury I appreciate. It’s so nice to have a setup that allows us a quiet space to work and study.
This project provided us with lots of opportunity to crank out ideas for maximizing a small home office. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing it. What are your home office must-haves? Do you have a study area for your kids to do homework? A spare room converted to a work-from-home setup? I’d love to hear about it!
If you want to see my other room reveals, click on the links below and have a look around. Thanks for being here!
The post Small Home Office Ideas: Tour our Shared Office appeared first on Tidbits.
]]>Shared on the Frugal community on Reddit, the thread has people sharing the cheapest buys and even things that cost nothing they use to improve their life quality and overall wellbeing.
From small things like incense sticks to amazing things that are free of charge like long sleeps and walks in nature, there are many ways to get ourselves together without breaking the bank!
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A toilet that reminds you to always lower the flapper.
Which bathroom storage unit do you like best?
The post 15 Clever Bathroom Hiding Places to Maximize Space and Store Your Stuff appeared first on Handimania.
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Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.
While the phrase storage bin might conjure visions of mysterious cardboard boxes or unlabeled oversize plastic containers, we’re here to tell you that storing items in a design-forward, practical, and functional vessel is very much a possibility. The best storage bins do it all: They protect your belongings and preserve their integrity, all while contributing to the style of your space.
Here at Domino, we love anything that multitasks—reducing physical and visual clutter. Whether you’re looking for the best way to hide (er, thoughtfully manage!) the chaos in your closet or the black hole beneath your bed, we’ve carefully culled options that roll, collapse, and carry in metal, handwoven abaca, and more.
Dimensions: 4 ¼-by-6 ¾-by-10 ½ inches (small) | Color: Varies | Material: Polypropylene | Stackable: Yes
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Tons of colors and a variety of sizes make this affordable collapsible bin one that we could imagine stacked in multiples or broken down and ready for an easy move.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect pastel or a brilliant bold, these crates from Hay, purveyor of Danish design, offer plenty in the way of flexibility and practicality. They are available in three sizes (small, medium, and large) to house your desktop accessories, bathroom toiletries, and more. They were specifically designed to be modular, so that the smaller sizes fit inside larger ones, enabling you to get down to the minutiae of organizing. Thanks to the perforations along the walls of the bins, they’re light and ventilated—and collapsible, to boot. The crates are stackable, so they work particularly great in multiples, allowing you to create the color combination (or rainbow!) of your dreams.
Dimensions: Varies | Color: White | Material: BPA-free plastic | Stackable: Yes
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Clean, and simple, the three different sizes (small, medium, large) of these bins makes it easy to say yes to a decluttered life.
If Scandi-clean is the look you’re going for, search no further than the Container Store’s bins and lids for all your organizational needs. With four sizes ranging from extra-small to large, they accommodate a number of items and can work as open containers or lidded ones that enable them to be stacked. But it’s really the thoughtful details we like: smooth-edged handles for easy holding, a clean white exterior made of 100 percent BPA-free plastic, and matching lid that doubles as a tray or can be used to keep dust out. And while they aren’t microwave-safe, they are can be placed in the dishwasher and refrigerator, so they’re perfect for just about everywhere—bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and beyond.
Dimensions: 13-by-13-by-13 inches | Color: Varies | Material: Steel | Stackable: Yes
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Stackable, lively, durable, and available in six cute colors—what’s not to love?
If you’re looking to contain a messy room with style and ease, your search is over. These painted steel bins are chock-full of smart details, from handles that flip in and out (for stacking) to an open front with a name tag or label slot. The bins are available in six colors—black, white, a lively yellow, an earthy green, pink, and a deep blue—but if you can’t decide on just one, we understand. Good news: The color palette works just as well when mixed and matched as when flying solo.
Dimensions: 9-by-6-by-14 inches | Color: White | Material: Wood and alloy steel | Stackable: No
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: These bins are all about simple storage for items ready to be on display.
From the Japanese organizational gurus at Yamazaki comes the Home Storage Basket, aka the perfect pantry or hobby organizer. With an oversize, open-basket matrix and wood handles for easy transportation, it’s great for holding larger kitchen items like bags of snacks or produce, but it also works just as well for containing clothing, toys, or crafting supplies. Its painted steel construction feels strong and sturdy, with a durable powder-coated finish that gives it a glossy, lightly textured look. We can see these lined up neatly in a closet, filled to the brim with goodies that stay where they’re supposed to, though one Domino editor keeps hers permanently perched on top of the fridge to corral extra bags of coffee and ramen.
Dimensions: 19.5-by-12.5-by-9.5 inches (10 inches with lids) | Color: Gray | Material: Compressed felt | Stackable: Yes
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Soft, elegant, and made of recycled materials, these bins have won us over, whether they’re lidded or not.
Thoughtful proportions in storage bins go a long way, and Open Spaces hit the nail on the head with its large felt bins: The flexible and functional size fits everything from printer paper to toy trucks. They combine the best of a soft, cozy compressed felt with a wood lid for a nice balance between style and hygge that a messy toddler or a minimalist neat freak would intuitively find appealing. On top of it all, the bins are made from recycled plastic bottle fibers, reducing environmental impact while maximizing your organizational skills.
Dimensions: 10¼-by-13¾-by-6 inches | Color: Varies | Material: PET plastic (minimum 50 percent recycled) | Stackable: Yes
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: A simple storage statement at a price that won’t break the bank.
Minimalist in both design and color selections, we love the discreetness of the Kuggis storage bin and its tiny—but effective and graphic—thumbhole. It’s particularly great for storing bath toiletries, where its sleek look keeps privacy intact. And rest assured: It fits perfectly with IKEA classics like Billy shelves and Besta storage units. While the color selection of white, dark turquoise, and light green might not be the neutrals we’d expect, we like the idea of making storage the pop of color or moment of fun in a closet or cabinet.
Dimensions: 14-by-14.5 inches + 3.5-inch handle (medium), 15-by-19 inches + 3.5-inch handle (large) | Color: Light abaca | Material: Locally sourced abaca bark | Stackable: No
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Handwoven in Indonesia, these baskets are a beautiful blend of functionality and artistry.
If you thought woven baskets were the vessel of choice only for knitting grandmas or old-school gift givers to fill with fruitcake, think again. The Citizenry’s Sundak baskets are unique and organic in form and color, with each one handwoven out of sustainably sourced abaca plants in Indonesia. The chunky weave means the baskets are surprisingly sturdy—think: hefty enough to hold several yoga mats and some weights—and two big handles make for easy transportation. Available in two sizes, they create a nice ensemble when paired together but work separately as well, bringing a bit of organic warmth to any nook or cranny in need of some storage.
Dimensions: 22-by-14-by-17 inches (low bin); 17-by-14-by-27.5 inches (tall hamper) | Color: White/gray or white/navy | Material: Plastic and rattan | Stackable: No
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: It provides summery, beachy storage—on wheels.
The name really says it all: The Riviera Rolling Storage bin combines the classic beachy South of France vibes with the practicality of wheels. Full of personality and designed to coordinate with other pieces in Serena & Lily’s Riviera collection, these bins are available in two sizes that can roll: a lower, smaller one suitable for books, toys, and other medium-size items, and a larger, taller option that feels more like a traditional hamper in its proportions. But however you use these, we’re such big fans of S&L’s graphic woven pattern and rattan trim that we’d be hard-pressed to hide them away in a closet—and would end up keeping them on full display.
Dimensions: 27.8-by-16.1-by-10.5 inches (shallow bin) | Color: White | Material: Polypropelene | Stackable: Yes
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Outdoor-friendly, stackable bins that aren’t your basic Rubbermaids.
These corrugated containers by Japanese brand Like-it are the outdoor storage bins we’ve been waiting for. The watertight and airtight lids mean you can stack them outside or in a garage without worrying about mold or mildew, and you won’t be bothered by the sight of them since they aren’t tacky or cheap plastic. Choose between four chic colors when selecting the Shallow set, which ships with four matching mini bins that perfectly line up inside to keep your seasonal contents separated and organized, whether that’s Christmas ornaments and decorations or winter sweaters and clothes. Or opt for the deep box with an extra-heavy weight capacity of 220 pounds if you have quite a bit to put away, like leftover soil and other gardening tools. We love the side handles for easy gripping when it’s time to unpack.
Dimensions 32-by-22-by-9.5 inches | Color: Gray | Material: PET felt | Stackable: Yes
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Sculptural bins made from felt that are surprisingly sturdy.
Thuma’s minimalist frames are among our favorite platform beds, so it makes sense that the brand offers an equally modern storage bin. Made with PET felt created from recycled plastic bottles, it’ll slide out from underneath a small space with ease, even if your floor is carpeted. Plus the dark heather gray won’t distract your eye if you’d rather it disappear. Two will comfortably fit beneath a twin, up to four under a queen, and up to six with a king. The matching covers keep dust from collecting, especially if you’re storing seasonal sweaters or blankets, one reviewer notes. Though there aren’t any handles, the lipped edge offers a spot to grab onto for easy access.
Dimensions 17-by-11.8-by-9 inches | Color: Natural | Material: Water hyacinth | Stackable: No
What we like:
Worth noting:
Why we chose it: Ideal for kid toys, diapers, and books—plus, they’re made from natural materials.
One major selling point on these wicker baskets? The flexible handles! They make moving kids toys, books, and diapers from room to room so simple. We recommend buying a few and placing them in a playroom, on a diaper caddy, or just having around in the living room to offer your child a spot to explore. That way, you aren’t schlepping everything around the house. Plus, they’re woven from natural water hyacinth—if your baby or kiddo is interacting with the material, you know it’s eco-friendly and safe.
These multifunctional, powder-coated steel baskets from Neat Method come in six trendy colors, including this matte green spruce, and two sizes (a small 10-inch square, and large 14-inch box that the brand estimates can hold about six bags of pasta). The perforated style keeps items obscured without completely hiding them from view. And we love that these come with felt pads that prevent the bottom from scratching cabinet shelves or floors and insertable dividers, but we wish the magnetic label holders did, too. As one past purchaser notes, a larger size would be handy. While other reviewers can’t get enough of them (one bought 40 for their mudroom, office, and pantry!), a few note theirs arrived a bit warped.
Design and aesthetics always play an important part in decision-making at Domino. In fact, when we vetted our selections for the best storage bins, those two factors were just as important as the practical side of things, like materials, dimensions, and functionality. And our experts, from organizational pros to interior designers, agree: It’s not form over function but instead form and function when it comes to this essential organizational tool.
When it comes to storage bins, the design encompasses a range of factors like color, material, and details. Lids, handles, openings, and even casters can really elevate the bin and make it something you’d want to display, not to mention carry or wheel from room to room. Not sure if you really need a lid? “If you’re placing items in a visible space like a bookshelf, you may like a lid so you don’t have to see the contents; who wants to look at office supplies or papers?” professional organizer Laura Cattano points out.
Storage bins can come in many different materials, including metal, plastic, and natural options like rattan and canvas. So how to know what will work best for you? Consider what you’re storing and any special requirements it might have. If you’re storing food, make sure the bin is food-safe, for example. On the other hand, “if you’re storing makeup or hair products, you’ll want a material that’s easy to clean like plastic. If you’re storing sweaters, you’ll want something smooth that won’t snag the fabric,” says Julianna Strickland, founder of Space Camp Organizing. At the same time, though, Strickland adds, “I personally don’t want to see a wall of plastic when I walk into a closet, so I always tend to lean toward bins made of natural materials like canvas, cotton rope, or wicker.”
If you’re looking to hide away the tiniest trinkets or the most oversize toys, fear not: There are storage bins big or small enough for all storing needs. Generally speaking, “a bin should be big enough to fit a category of item, but not so big that small pieces will fall to the bottom never to be found again (think about what might happen if you dumped Legos and doll clothes in a large cloth bin!),” says Lucy Milligan Wahl, founder of LMW Edits. But regardless of the size you’re looking for, “be sure to measure twice once you know where you’re putting a bin. Nothing is worse than getting something that’s an inch too big and doesn’t work for the space,” says Cattano.
Sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t what kind of storage bin you need but something even more basic: What exactly do you want to store? Some of the most common items that are stored are seasonal, like winter clothes and holiday decor, while others might be those used throughout the year such as toys or craft supplies. Consider what you’re storing and how often you’ll be lugging it out before you purchase.
Durability is intrinsically linked to materials and construction quality, so be sure to read the fine print. If the bin is made of metal, take a look at any coatings that are applied and examine the construction of the corners for unfinished edges. For fabric bins, materials that can withstand lots of use like leather, felt, or even a high-quality canvas is the way to go.
Some storage bins—particularly those without lids—are designed as individual vessels that are meant to be one-off, unique, and maybe even artfully arranged on a shelf. Others, though, are specifically created so that they work well in multiples, whether stacked vertically, nested inside one another, or just placed horizontally next to each other. If you’re having trouble figuring out whether you want to purchase multiples, consider what you’re going to be storing; if it’s of a similar size; and if it will be sitting in the same area or on the same shelf, suggests Cattano. If that’s the case, she recommends getting multiples of the same bin to reduce visual clutter.
Storage bins come in a range of sizes and shapes, but most frequently you’ll find bins that are circular or rectangular in shape. Sizes can range from small at about 5-by-3-by-2 inches (around the size of a box of pasta) to oversize, which can handle dozens of quarts (think: 26-by-16-by-14 inches). However, the more design-forward ones tend to be in the small to medium range, with the larger sizes featuring more practical motifs that you’d probably use to store stuff in the basement or attic, not keep out on display.
If you’re looking to move on from some old storage bins, consider relegating them to a secondary location in your house, like the garage, basement, or attic. And if that isn’t going to work for you, says Strickland, “your best bet is to give them to a friend or neighbor, or donate them to places that can always use clean bins in good shape.”
If you’re storing photographs, especially if they’re old or delicate, acid-free is the way to go. “This could mean sorting photos into large acid-free envelopes and then storing those envelopes in a plastic bin, or it could mean using photo boxes and forgoing the plastic bins altogether,” says Strickland. Caroline Solomon of Neatly Organizing recommends using archival storage boxes that are acid- and lignin-free, which will prevent the yellowing of photo materials. Plastic, she notes, will keep moisture and other insects and rodents at bay, but “it’s not the ideal choice for photo storage, as it’s unclear how plastic reacts with photos over time.” And you’ll want to think about where the bins are stored as well, since temperature can have an impact: “If they’re in a temperature-controlled setting, it’s not likely that the photos will be severely damaged in a plastic bin,” comments Strickland. On the other hand, if they’re being kept in a hot garage in Arizona, for example, “you definitely want to make sure your photos are stored properly in acid-free envelopes or boxes,” she adds.
Since pests are more interested in the goods inside a bin than the bin itself, “make sure your storage bin seals well, or that the contents are clean and free of items that might be appealing to pests,” says Wahl. Adding cedar blocks when storing fabrics will help keep out moths, and avoiding cardboard is a good idea as well because, as Wahl says, “creepy-crawlies love it!” When in doubt, “invest in the highest-quality bin you can afford,” whether that means airtight containers or adding cedar balls or disks to sweater bins, says Strickland.
Whether you’re looking to put away your winter apparel for the season or keep your crafting supplies neatly sorted and easily accessible, the best storage bins will not only keep your goodies clean, safe, and free from moisture or pests, they’ll add a little something to your abode—whether that’s a simple, minimalist shape or a bright pop of color. And our recommended choices have been thoroughly and thoughtfully vetted so that they fit just about any toy or tchotchke and work in just about any space, whether that’s corner, closet, or kitchen.
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