choose wisely

Reuse. Repurpose. Readjust—but don’t replace.When choosing storage solutions, look for durable products that adapt again and again for a long lifespan. Before you buy, find out what’s inside… Does the product contain recycled materials? How does it affect air quality?

know before you go

Extra trips to the grocery store cost you time, money, fuel and frustration. Plan a menu for the week so you buy only what you need. Set up your pantry space for quick inventory so you know what you have before heading out the door. Sort by food type.Turn food labels outward. Group items often used together. Stack back to front in descending size.

get fresh

Stock your pantry with pull-out baskets to store and display fresh, local produce (many goods like tomatoes and potatoes fare better outside of the fridge). Plus, local foods require less fuel in their transport and fewer preservatives since they get to your table sooner.

work smart

By showing the boss that you can work effectively from home, you’re likely to get the go-ahead to do so more often, saving gas and time. Get the day started early before the kids are up. Locate your workspace near natural light to improve alertness; use shades to reduce screen glare. Change up your posture and take breaks from time to time to keep your mind fresh and your focus sharp.

refine recycling

Locate recycle bins in a place where it’s convenient for you to sort recyclables right after use.This makes your weekly recycling day a cinch. Give recyclables a proper rinse—ensuring they don’t contaminate the batch (or attract pests). Situate a paper-only mini-recycling center near desks and craft areas and consolidate weekly.

simplify cleaning

When you don’t give grime time to build up, you’ll be less likely to resort to harsh chemical cleaners. Organize for light, frequent cleanings. Consider storage solutions that lift your stuff off the floor, making way for a swift sweep or speedy scrub. Use see-through baskets and hooks to keep earth-friendly cleaning supplies at the ready: microfiber cloths, spray bottles, baking soda, vinegar, lemon.

gather your giving

Designate a space to store items destined for charitable donation.There’s no point in letting good things from last season languish in the back of your closet when someone else could put them to use. By establishing a zone for this stuff, you’ll also make it easier to remember to take it along on your next errand.

be a lifelong learner

What we know about sustainable living is always changing, always growing. Expand your knowledge by checking out these websites:

earth911.com
dailygreen.com
thegreenguide.com

Whether you’re bringing work home, doing homework, or compiling the family books, a home office provides a convenient place to get work done. With the right solution, this space can blend effortlessly into your home, even doing double-duty as an office or media center. Here are a few tips to help a single small space perform admirably whether you’re on or off the clock.

Do a disappearing act.

Paper, notebooks, and pens may be necessary for your work, but they don’t have to stay out in the open. Conceal them behind storage doors and drawers when not in use so your home always looks tidy and neat.

Blend the lines.

If your office is sharing space with other living areas, look for ways to blur the boundaries so they can coexist peacefully. Using open shelves to show off personal mementoes can help this type of space feel connected to the rest of your home.

Raise the bar.

Opt for a design that uses support feet to raise cabinets off the floor, creating a contemporary, residential feeling.

No loose ends.

Consider all of the items you bring into your home office, and plan storage space for each of them. Then stash your briefcase, remotes, or technical equipment in a cubby instead of leaving them out in the open.

Let there be light.

A well-lit surface makes every task easier, but there’s not always room for a separate task light. Instead, mount low-profile LED strips beneath upper cabinets to illuminate the work surface when the area is in use.

 

Don’t let your home office or entertainment options be limited by small spaces. Good design can make the most of any space, letting you experience the best of both worlds.

Turning your entryway into an inviting, efficient transition space can lift your spirits every time you walk in the door. Follow these simple tips to upgrade your entryway, foyer, or mudroom into a stylish, organized space that will always welcome you home.

Have a Seat

Create a convenient spot for tying shoes or removing them before entering your home with a built-in bench. It also provides a handy place to set shopping bags when you come in.

 

Add Upscale Style

Choose colors, textures, and a style that complement your home and make a positive first impression. Shown here, the combination of Driftwood color with natural woodgrain texture, sleek hardware, and a White bench made of thick Forterra is one of many possibilities to express yourself.

 

 

Keep It Together

Spacious wall-to-wall storage offers room to store gear for every season, so you’ll always know exactly where to find that pair of gloves or your favorite sun hat. Custom designs for your home mean you can maximize storage space without wasting a single precious inch.

 

Claim Your Territory

Sturdy hooks give everyone in the family a designated spot for stashing or grabbing jackets, bags, and other everyday items. Add a few extra hooks for visitors and one for the dog’s leash.

 

Do a Disappearing Act

Maintain a clean and orderly appearance by storing items neatly out of sight behind cabinet doors or inside drawers. Plan a drawer for every season, sport, or family member.

 

Put It There

With a designated storage spot near the door, you’ll always remember where you put your keys, your garage door opener, or your favorite shoes. Low-profile drawers with full extension glides make it easy to find what you need at a glance when you’re in a hurry.

 

Designate a Drop Zone

Take advantage of underutilized space in your garage to create a mini-mudroom. Use hooks and baskets for grab-and-go convenience, and keep small items in overhead storage. A boot bench encourages people to remove shoes so your floors stay cleaner, and it offers a convenient space to set bags while you open the door.

 

When the entrances to your home are properly equipped, it’s easy to keep these busy spaces looking clean, organized and inviting.

Ever wish you could spend less time doing laundry? With a few strategic updates to the layout of your laundry room, you can make every step from sorting to folding and hanging faster and easier. By designating space for each activity and all the supplies you need to store, you can transform your laundry room into a tidy, attractive area that makes keeping up with this ongoing task feel more enjoyable and less like a chore.

 

1. Sort Your Supplies

The first step to organizing your laundry room is deciding what belongs there. Organize laundry cleaners such as detergents, stain removers, and fabric softeners and place them on open shelves near the washing machine for quick access. Household cleaners and supplies can be stored in cabinets behind closed doors, maintaining a clean and organized appearance. If you have the available storage space, you might also keep an ironing board, extra towels or linens in your laundry room.

 

2. Expand Your Space

It’s amazing how much more room you can find when you take advantage of vertical space. Adding a custom organization system with cabinets, shelves, hampers, and baskets can dramatically increase your storage capacity, letting you store supplies within arm’s reach while keeping them tidy behind closed doors.

 

3. Tame the Laundry Pile

Prep dirty laundry for washing by using deep pull-out laundry hampers to organize darks, lights, and delicates as they come into the laundry room. When one of the hampers gets full, just remove the basket and tip it into the washing machine.

 

4. Make Your Ironing Board Disappear

Instead of a bulky, full-size ironing board, try a space-saving fold-out board that’s easy to stow off the floor and out of sight when not in use. And it’s not just for the laundry room. This compact board offers convenient ironing in your bedroom when you add it to an ORG Home closet organizer. You can also use a hook to hang your full-sized board flush against a wall when it’s folded.

 

5. Create a Place to Hang Out

Once clothes come out of the wash, built-in hanging rods make it simple to air-dry delicates. Consider adding a slide-out valet rod to hold freshly dried or ironed clothes on their way back to your closet

 

6. Claim Your Workspace

Scrubbing stains or folding clothes on the surface of your dryer can be awkward and cramped. Instead, treat yourself to an open countertop where you have plenty of room to work.

 

Yes, laundry is never-ending, but an organized and efficient laundry room can work wonders when it comes to making this chore more enjoyable!