Welcome to Apartment Therapy!
This is a group for people that are working on rehabilitating their homes to come and discuss anything and everything home related- Do-It-Yourself projects, Interior Design, Cleaning and Organizing, great places to find home goods,and sharing suggestions, tips and ideas for around the house. Also, feel free to post pictures of what you are working on/have done in your home.
You are the Artist!
It's your home, your space- make it reflect who you are! You're the artist and your home is the canvas. You chose the colors, the design, and the little details that go into creating your masterpiece.
Even if you don't own your home and your landlord has strict guidelines on what you can and cannot do to the physical space, there are so many ways to change it, add color & design, and personalize it to your liking while you occupy the space. Little details- such as new knobs and pulls, light fixtures or switchplates, can dramatically change the look of a room that looked "outdated"- and can be changed back easily when you move out if the landlord requests that things be left as they were when you moved in.
And of course every piece of furniture and all household items you add to your home can be a work of art on its own! Why be ordinary and buy a complete "series" of bathroom or kitchen accessories when you can hunt around and mix and match stuff and have a completely original home?
Getting Organized
Getting your home and life organized isn't going to happen overnight. It takes time to find a good system that works for you (and you also have to find time to get organized)! If you life or clutter seems like it has gotten out of control, don't panic, and don't let that keep you from beginning to get organized. Set goals for yourself- even if its one room a weekend or a month til you've worked through your entire home- closets and all- and plan a yardsale at the end to make $$$ off of your clutter!
Here are some basic tips on getting organized:
- Assign everything a home and send everything home when it's not in use.
- Group like-items (similar type items) together in containers, bins, stackable drawers, decorative boxes or baskets, or any storage container. (see links below for good places to get containers)!
- Maximize your cabinet space using stackable storage containers or space shelves, and closets by adding shelves, extra rods, or hanging organizers.
- Keep appointments and events in a handy calendar, planner, PDA, or any type of organizer that is kept where you'll see it and use it.
- Organize papers in designated file folders, tray baskets, or a slot system. Don't let paper on the loose!
- Establish a paper flow system using: stacking tray baskets for mail in, pending, and filing (or "out"); vertical file holders for action files; filing cabinet for active files; storage boxes for archives (well labeled of course!).
- Establish a bill paying system using either: a tray basket, file folder, accordion file, or notebook binder. or organize a folder in your bookmarks for the websites of your bills if you pay your bills online.
- Set up a system to store expense receipts - a drawer, a storage box, a large envelope, accordion files, or any container to easily dump receipts into.
- Keep only what you need and use and ensure it has current value to you or that it's functional. If it's broken, not worn in months (seasonal clothes are the exception), or never used anymore, get rid of it.
- Streamline your personal inventory of items and only keep a minimum of most things - favorite shoes, cosmetics & toiletries, linens, kitchenware, and decor & household items.
Here is a great website with lots of organization tips:
LifeOrganizers.com is a rich resource of office and home organizing articles, tips, and fresh, easy ideas on how to get rid of clutter from every part of your life... from the garage to your filing cabinet to your spiritual matters! We show you how to organize anything and everything! Get organized completely with us read one article a
day, put one suggestion into action a day. With our help, you will enjoy how harmony and a delicious sense of control can emerge from the clutter of your surroundings. Yes, it can be done. And you can do it
with our help!
If youve been fighting a losing battle with clutter in your home, your place of work, or even in your spiritual life, we welcome you with open arms to LifeOrganizers.comwhere learning how to organize is fun... really!
Some stores and sites with great organizational stuff:
The Container Store Hold Everything Organize.com IKEA Target
California Closets elfa.com metro.com closetstogo.com
Does Your Home Need Some Physical Therapy?
Do-It-Yourself Projects
Do you have projects around your house that you need tips or help on? Here's are some websites that will provide you with some Do-It-Yourself instructions and several also sell products as well that may help you with your projects. A basic website description is next to the link so you know a basic description of what is on the site. Also, feel free to ask for help with any DIY projects here as others might know how to help!
- www.diynet.com- DIY Network is your television source for the latest do-it-yourself projects and videos, including Home Building; Home Improvement; Automotive & Boating; Crafts; Gardening; Living; and Woodworking.
- www.homedepot.com- The Home Depot provides products and services for all your home improvement needs.
- www.lowes.com- Home Improvement at Lowe's. Your source for appliances, tools, home decor, lighting, kitchen cabinets, ceramic tile and kitchen design.
- www.acehardware.com- Ace, The Helpful Place. Ace Hardware has everything you need - Hardware, Hand and Power Tools, Electrical, Plumbing, Lawn and Garden, Cleaning and Paint
- www.diy.com- Nationwide chain offering DIY supplies and goods for the home and garden. Online shopping, store finder and advice on projects.
- www.doityourself.com- do it yourself home improvement, projects, decorating, home repair, remodeling, contractors, hardware, hardware store, tools, diy repair tips, hardware store, kitchen remodeling, bathrooms, cleaning, stain removal, plumbing, plumbers, toilet problems, painting, patching, plastering, gardening, contractors, mechanics, lawn, lawn problems, garden, landscaping, decor, tools, home improvement videos, woodworking projects, remodeling, car repair, auto repair, floor finishing, wood finishing, wood refinishing.
- www.diyfixit.co.uk- diy fix it, do it yourself, home plumbing, central heating, hanging wallpaper, diy help, diy advice, home improvement guide, home electrical wiring, tips on painting and decorating, kitchen and bathroom, diy questions and answers
Add a Splash of Color:
paints, wallpapers, and that fun stuff!
Wallpaper (and Paint) isn't just for walls- you can do all sorts of cool things with it to add color and design to your home. You can use wallpaper (or paint of course) on furniture you are sick of looking at. Give an old bookcase a fresh color, then add walpaper to the back to add a burst of design. Or cover some books on your shelves with wallpapers to give your bookcase an "artsy" feel instead of rows and rows of books. You can also cover boxes with wallpaper or use it as fun shelf liner! And paint... there is so much you can do with paint! And of course your walls don't have to be a solid color. You can add designs with paint, or paint different walls different colors. Let your imagination run wild!
Here are some sites to help you out:
wallpaper 'n stuff:
Bradbury & Bradbury Villiage Waverly wallpapermore.com wallpaperstogo.com
Blik- wall graphics for the urban dweller (100% organic)
paints:
Sherwin-Williams Behr Benjamin Moore Glidden Kelly Moore Milk Paint Duron
Dutch Boy Bennette Porter Paints Devoe Paint Ralph Lauren Polo Home
Rx Home Makeover:
Home Furnishings and Accessories
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