An avid organizer like myself is definitely the type to organize their organizing supplies. I know not everyone may have a need or desire to go to that level of Danny Tanner like detail, but it really is useful to have a "go to" kit. In fact, I have always been a super-sized advocate for kits and caddies and how helpful they are around the home, and I love how my friend Ursula created one specifically for the task of organizing. I would imagine this to be especially helpful when setting up a new home after a move, or if you just love to go on organizing sprees whenever the mood strikes. There always tends to be specific items that are used frequently when working on organizational projects, so it only makes sense to store them together right? What must have products do you find yourself reaching for time and time again while organizing? A label maker? A favorite pen? Stickers or tape? I am totally geeking out about this right now!
Hey there IHeart Organizing readers, Ursula here from Home Made by Carmona! So good to be back again with another project that has my heart skipping a beat.
You know how much I love beautiful organization, and all things gold, aaaaand all things crafty? Well I have a project that brings all three of those things together. The best part? The project is a cute (and super handy) organizing kit to help you make MORE organized spaces!
I've got this handy little printable shopping list for you to ensure you get all the materials you need to assemble the perfect organizing kit:
Half the fun is buying the cutest organizing materials you can possibly find! Remember, the prettier your materials are, the more beautiful your organized spaces will be and the more likely you will be to maintain them!
And just in case you were wondering exactly how I use each and every handy dandy organizing thing in my kit; that is a whole post all by itself which I have shared here. I also recommend getting yourself a project journal and/or a clipboard for your organizing to-do list. Nothing keeps my organizing mojo going more than having a list to keep me on task! So go ahead, arm yourself to make cool stuff and amazing spaces.
Let's talk about organizing the organizing kit for a moment shall we?\
Haha, it makes me think of the TV show episode where clean freak Adrian Monk cleans his big vacuum with a handheld vacuum, then bemoans not having an even smaller vacuum with which to clean the handheld vacuum! (did you follow any of that?)
Now you are going to put some of those new supplies from your shopping list to good use right away! I hope you got a variety of sizes in clear plastic bags (often found in the bead and jewelry making department), because you are going to need them to store some things. I love that they are clear so you can see exactly what is in them. And if you still want to label the bags that are holding your labels, well I won't judge! Some of us (most of us here) are certifiable labeling freaks, and proud of it!
Speaking of clear storage, you'll want to buy a clear stack-able container to hold your labels, tags, ribbon, twine, bags, and other medium sized items.
Then you can easily lift out this smaller kit for labeling specific tasks. Rather than carting the entire organizing bin with you, segment each part by task type.
This next storage module will hold push pins, clips, safety pins, small round magnets, etc. These are the little items that need to be contained, and typically used for creating inspiration boards, reminder boards, as well as a variety of other organizing projects.
The cutest possible bag holds all my marking gear. We're talking fabric markers, oil-based markers, permanent markers, wet and dry erased markers... Oh, and each and every one in my favorite metallic colors! Whether I am writing on mirrors, labeling bins, or marking my territory on my tea mug ("Mom's ONLY!"), this little bag serves me well!
Finally, the file holder part of your organizing kit should store stickers, rub-ons, scrapbook paper, decals, folder dividers, baseball card holder sheets, etc.
I know what you are thinking, scrapbooking paper makes it sound more like a crafters kit than an organizing kit. Well, see a few of my organizational uses here, and trust me that many people find organizing is a craft project in it's own right! My things shouldn't just be pretty organized, they should be organized prettily!
I added one last bin to hold my favorite drawer contact adhesive, label maker, three hole punch, and other large items. Then stack all of these "mini kits" into one large box or bin (preferably one with handles).
Remember the job of these organizing modules within a bigger box or bin is to be able to easily access whatever you need, no matter what organizing task you have taken on! You can bring it with you wherever you need to go, and even work it into your decor when not in use!
I don't know about you, but nothing motivates me to organize more than a handy kit with all manner of beautiful things in it! 'Til next time friends!
Hi, I'm Ursula and I blog at Home Made by Carmona where there is always a fun DIY project in play. I've got expensive taste and no money, I'm a neat freak who's house didn't get that memo, and I firmly believe organization has the power to improve our homes, habits, and the members that abide there! I'm so thrilled to be here at IHeart Organizing, the blog that first inspired me to start my own blogging journey. via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/2ayXPRV
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This is the first summer in years that I feel like we have given ourself some grace and time off from around-the-clock house projects (although there are always plenty to do). It has been so wonderful to dedicate our evenings to parks and baseball and our weekends to bonfires and boat rides with Grandma and Grandpa. All this soaking up summer fun is great until that classic cartoon crash and burn motion sets in; the one where the character is moving along swimmingly and then suddenly slams into a brick wall, smooshes their face, slides down the wall only to have a flower pot fall and land on their head. That's how I felt this week. I started to realize that there are some very necessary household projects/maintenance items that really need to take place each summer (as well as seasonally). So, Bryan and I decided to take the entire week to tackle a variety of not-so-fun but oh-so-necessary tasks around the house.
As I type up this post I am covered in paint with dirt under my fingernails and ready for the longest hot shower and massage available. But I wanted to touch base with y'all to say hi, and to share the items we are choosing to tackle this week in lieu of playing in the sun or even working on the exciting and tranformative house projects (although I did sneak in one of those too, goodbye birch tree wall stencil). WASH WINDOWS I give the windows inside a good cleaning every few weeks or so, but the outside windows go far too long without a proper scrub down. I recently picked up an extension pole window cleaning kit (similar) and after I got started with it, I thought about switching professions to Certified Window Cleaner. There is something so exciting and satisfying about watching the windows go from dusty and dirty to sparkling and gleaming in seconds. The window cleaning tool definitely made this chore quick and easy in terms of reaching all of the windows around the house. WASH TRIM & DOORS/TOUCH UP PAINT I shared the process I use here, but this year I also found a magic eraser cut the total time down even more. I took time to scrub down each door (especially around door handles), as well as trim around doors and windows and all of the moulding and risers down our stairway. I also grabbed a few old paint brushes and touched up scuffs and dings on the trim and walls (thank you paint cabinet organization!). DESCALE COFFEE MACHINE Coffee machines can generate build-up over time, so a quick descaling every few months will keep all of the inside components and tubes free and clear of anything on the gross side that you don't want added to your morning brew. Some machines offer special descaling kits, but I have found that running hot water through the machine with a bit of vinegar also works quite well. After descaling, I find that all of the heat and steam makes it the perfect time to give the entire thing a good scrub on the exterior surfaces as well. CHANGE FILTERS It was time for us to change our furnace filter, as well as the filter for our automobiles and refrigerator water. Other filters you may want to consider checking are range hoods, vacuums and air conditioners. PULL WEEDS/TRIM SHRUBS This took us a few different days this week because we get weeds through our pavers out back, as well as in all of our garden beds and landscaping around our home. Oh, and up through our retaining wall out front and through cracks in our sidewalk. Our grassy yard is consistently maintained and weed free... but everywhere else needed a lot of attention. This is one of my least favorite jobs, but necessary nonetheless. And really, it is kind of amazing the difference pulling some weeds makes to overall curb appeal. Good gloves were a sanity saver, and we also treated areas with a few types of weed killer so now I am crossing my fingers my plants survive and the weeds don't. We also trimmed back a few of our shrubs, giving them a little shape and symmetry. REPLACE WINDOW SCREENS Three of our bedroom windows had small holes that grew over the last year. We purchased a roll of screen and replaced the screen on those three windows using a simple spline rolling tool (we were also able to reuse our previous spline). Shoo flies, don't bother us! This quick project only took about 10 minutes per window and is a great alternative to purchasing an entire new frame. REPAIR BROKEN FINISHES We did a quick walk through of each room to check the mechanics of any technology, appliances, plumbing and windows. We also walked the exterior and checked around windows and doors, the lighting, the gutters and the garage fixtures. We found that our turn cranks on our front windows are worn, so we took the steps to hunt down the window manufacture to order a new one. This is when it is really useful to keep your home details and contractor digits filed away in a safe place. We also found that one of our hose spigots is leaking and we purchased the replacement parts to attempt to fix it ourselves. CLEAN MAJOR APPLIANCES Our fridge, washing machine, dishwasher and range all received good muscle filled scrubs, and the washer and dishwasher were both cycle cleaned. VACUUM VENTS For this task, I took our vacuum to each of the floor and ceiling vents, as well as the cold air returns (removing the covers and vacuuming inside). Additionally, I took the time to vacuum out the lint vents on our dryer, both inside and behind (using these tips). ROOM-BY-ROOM DECLUTTER Last but not least, I used my pre-printed basket labels and took a trash and donate bin to each room in our home. I gave myself 10 minutes in each space to declutter and find things that no longer serve a purpose for us. This is by far my favorite seasonal task, it feels so good to let go and reap the benefits of a clean slate. For this task I like to set a timer which helps me make quick decisions.
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I created a sweet and simple printable that I used all week, and I love it so much that I will be using it even more for additional projects around our abode. Here it is for you to print and enjoy also. It is always rewarding to check something off of a list, and a little color is a great way to keep chores a smidge more exciting.
And for you digital pals, have you tried Brightnest? I recently added it to my phone and think it will help to keep me on better task with a few of these types of home maintenance items. I like that it will remind me to complete important household tasks (instead of letting them go for too long), and that it also provides helpful tools and tips. How do you handle these types of important household tasks? Are there certain to do's that are worth hiring out? Do you do these seasonally or just as needed? I found I was more inclined and motivated to do these projects by selecting ten things, dedicating this specific week to them all, and not stopping until they were done. Once I got into a groove, I found myself just going from one thing to the next. Now, our home is happier and we can get back to enjoying it again! I think I will make sure to put a reminder in my planner to find ten things to focus on every quarter/season. Here are a few more resources with additional tips and checklists for annual and seasonal home maintenance: Keep Your House in Tip-Top Shape: An Incredibly Handy Home Maintenance Checklist Yearly Home Maintenance Schedule BHG Home Maintenance Checklist via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/2ayGCJu
The reason I initially fell in love with blogs is because they offered me ideas and inspiration and motivated me to think outside of the box. My favorite posts are always those "Why didn't I think of that?" kind. The type that offer up a completely smart solution, with just a bit of creative thinking and a few simple steps. Of course, reading blogs with pretty pictures, relatable moments and stories, life hacks and product recommendations are also big winners for me, but there is just something so wonderful about inexpensive and smart little tweaks that anyone can do around their home.
Courtney has been a regular around here for years, and she always receives a thumbs up from me in all areas of her blogging talents, but I especially adore her ability to turn something ordinary into something that is both darling and extraordinary. She is one smart cookie, and she is here to share her most recent patio update which may spark your own light bulb moment. Summertime and the living is easy! Well, actually nothing could be further from the truth. We are mid-move and relocating after nearly ten years in a home is a bit bananas. The project I am sharing today was born of necessity. The only space we have put together is the outdoor patio of our new home. That has allowed us to relax and enjoy while we work on indoor projects. But the only time we have a second to breathe is in the evening when it cools off and we need a blanket. I really wanted to find something that would store my blankets and also provide us with some other function. So with very little, I created some outdoor storage that now acts as a side table and a serving tray when we entertain. And it's all thanks to a laundry hamper! I am thrilled to not only have the storage for my blankets, but now I have an end table to set down a drink or style just for fun. This entire area is covered so that makes this project possible. It would be great for any covered area, a front porch or indoors. I am not sure it would hold up well under direct heat from the sun. So let's get started! It's super simple. Step #1: Look for any laundry hamper that provides the look you want. The reason I went with the laundry basket is that it has the height I was looking for. And it just so happened to be this pretty color which goes with our color scheme out here. Step #2: Pick up a round wooden disk from Home Depot ($6) and two handles ($3.50 each). And that's it!!! You will also need some white paint (or any color you choose). I used paint I already had at home. Step #3: Place the handles in the desired location and make a dot in the center of each hole. This will tell you where to pre-drill your holes. Step #4: Use a drill to attach each handle. I chose to pre-drill the holes and then unscrew them. I just like to know that it all works before I go to the trouble of painting. You could skip this step and drill after the disk is painted. Totally up to you. Step #5: Apply two coats of paint. You will also want to add a coat or two of poly-urethane to protect the paint Step #6: Once the paint is completely dry, add the handles. Allow the tray to set overnight before placing anything on top just so the paint doesn't stick. And there you have it! A side table as well as storage for blankets or anything else you can dream up. You could even store toys in here if you have little ones. And now when the sun sets I can now cuddle up with the blanket. So nice to have it right there. You can also remove the tray and use it for entertaining which I love to do. I love the way the gold handles play off of the white tray. So while we may be knee-deep in boxes and packing, we do have one place to hang out and relax. I honestly can't function unless we have one area pulled together. Are you that way? Hope you can find a spot indoors or out to create a little extra storage the next time you spot a laundry hamper. And as always, thank you to Jen and her sweet readers for allowing me to hang out here today. Hi! I'm Courtney, the author of A Thoughtful Place. I am a mom to two and passionate about home decor, DIY, fashion, gatherings, and the occasional life lesson. I love finding simple and accessible ideas for infusing style into all aspects of life. While an average day can often be hectic, A Thoughtful Place hopes to inspire you to find beauty and style in each and every one. via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/29QNXTF
I was recently going through my daily routine and thinking about the things that help me out the most on a daily basis. Not necessarily anything ground breaking, but things that we use every day that also makes our lives feel a bit easier and run a bit smoother. I am also asked frequently which systems we still use and love just as much today as we did the day I posted about them. I thought it would be fun to round up those items, and then have you all chime in with your personal favorites as well.
ONE
Let's start with the beginning of the day. When it comes to ironing, I will press specific dressy shirts quickly after the wash/dry process, however, everything else goes straight to my closet. A lot of my tops, blouses, shorts and skirts ultimately have some wrinkles when I pull them out in the morning. Instead of dragging out the bulky ironing board and waiting for the iron to heat up, I have found this steamer to be a much more convenient and quick option. I just keep the space saving pad hung on the back of the bedroom door, and the steamer is ready to go in seconds (which I store in a bedroom drawer). This quick tool prevents me from attempting to de-wrinkle with my hair dryer...I also love to use a compact steamer when I travel.
TWO
Next up... This little brush finds its way to my hands for a variety of tasks, but I use it daily on our bathroom sinks after morning tooth brushing sessions. Random Personal Fact: For as much as I prefer things clean around the house, I have it stuck in my mind that the messier I am while brushing my teeth, the cleaner I am getting them. We always have a case of toothpaste sink in our bathroom, as well as the main bath where the boys brush. A little water paired with this brush and the sink sparkles in seconds.
THREE
Another cleaning tool I use every. single. day. is our Dyson cordless stick vac. We have had this buddy for years now, and it helps me combat daily pet hair and crumbs. Not only does it go from hard floor to rugs, it also can lay almost flat to get under hard to reach areas. My favorite feature is that it easily transitions to a hand vac, perfect for those quick cleanups (corners, drawers, stairs, furniture, etc...).
FOUR
Heading back to the bathroom for a moment... Attaching basic ribbon loops to our towels is a simple "hack" that I am grateful for on the daily. We have been towels-on-hooks people for years now, and these little loops prevent the towels from slipping off of the hooks (because when kids are involved and quickly hanging things, those things also quickly fall to the ground). I think you all know by now I am easily amused, but this one truly gets a thumbs up and is basically a free upgrade anyone can make.
FIVE
These bins make my list in just about any organizing post, but that is probably because I use them more than any other type of storage bin or basket in our home. They are light weight, perfectly sized and inexpensive, making them ideal for our fridge, freezer, pantry, linen closet and under bathroom sinks. I can't rave enough about how hard they work for us all over the house.
SIX
It's probably no surprise that my planner makes this list. The reasons are pretty obvious; I keep my life details scribbled on these pages. I use my planner pages to set personal goals, keep track of deadlines and appointments, to hold business cards and invitations and even a few of my favorite family Instagram photos.... I would surely be lost without it! (Cover is the Kikki-K from a few years ago, but here is another similar option).
SEVEN
When it comes to stations around the home, there are a few that never let me down. First up, our shoe cabinet. I can confidently say that this is the best piece of storage furniture I have ever purchased. Although my kids still need reminders to actually put their shoes away, getting them to do it couldn't be easier.
EIGHT
We have two family paper management systems, one for us (in my office) and one for our boys. This charging cabinet is used daily for posting memos, responsibilities and schedules, as well as sorting specific paperwork and charging electronic devices. Just above the cabinet is a supply drawer with pens, pencils, paper and other office supplies, all which are also used daily by all of us. A single cabinet and drawer really receive a lot of love and attention, yet it is all concealed in a really wonderful way.
NINE
Also in the kitchen, we opted to utilize turntables or 'lazy susans' in our corner cabinet. I had no idea what a difference these would really make in organizing our frequently used kitchen items. I find myself smiling every time I just give it a spin and I am able to easily grab what I need. In fact, I have just begun to really nail down our fridge organization, and another turntable made its way there as well. And our large corner base cabinet has large dual turntables/carousel for our pots and pans. I am already thinking up ways to use these in more areas around our house, I am a superfan!
TEN
With five folks living in this house, we have to do laundry on a daily basis. One thing that has really helped us in general is cutting down on how much we separate/sort (we only separate whites, linens, cleaning rags and delicate items). In our case, over-sorting caused too many piles form in between loads. From there, having a specific sorting basket for each boy is a sanity saver for us all. The clothes are sorted and put on hangers straight from the dryer, then placed into each individual boy's basket and placed in their bedrooms to be put away. They then return the empty baskets to the laundry room with any spare hangers and the process then plays on repeat.
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Each one of these systems and products has proven beneficial to us on a daily basis in terms of saving us time and headaches. Now that I have shared my favorite daily products, storage solutions and tips, I would love to hear all about yours as well. What would you be lost without? Are there certain areas of your home that work really hard for you, so you don't have to? What small life hacks have you made that bring you moments of joy each day? Don't keep these tips to yourselves, sharing is caring my friends! via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/29W7OPK
Reader Spaces are back baby, and they are back with a bang!
I met the beautiful Mallory during a work event last year, and I was completely taken away by both her sweetness and style. She loves color (whoop!) and fashion and home and life, and shares it all on her blog Style Your Senses. Mallory has a way with creating lovely layered spaces that are completely my cup of tea (she does a wonderful job mixing in blues and pinks). And when she recently revealed a space she worked on for her and her daughter, I also fell in love with her storage and ability to create a cohesive and playful space for two. Not to mention it was a great opportunity to take in a pink room, because we all know it is my absolute favorite color! Whether you are looking to create a workspace, a play space, or both, there are plenty of inspirational ideas to go around! What is the main function of the space? "The space is such a huge footprint in our house, so it really has to serve multiple functions as a playroom for our daughter and an office for me. Overall, we wanted it to be a cohesive, fun and creative space where we could happily co-exist." Any superstar tips for keeping it organized? "I'm actually relying on my 3 year old for most of that! Aside from really taking control of my craft closet, the daily tasks of organization really have to do with her toys. Instead of throwing everything into large storage baskets, I came up with smaller storage solutions to sort toys by type and have turned it into a game for her. She quickly learned where everything goes not only does it make clean-up super easy and fast, but I'm also finding that she's playing with everything more because she knows where to find it all. The biggest thing that I learned from the first time that we tried to make this space functional was that there HAD to be tons of storage involved this go round. I decided to make nearly the entire length of the room’s far right wall into storage. I took a whole day at IKEA and really mapped out what I needed. We already had the center unit on casters and decided to leave it that way and let it serve as a little reading bench. The 4 cubby units flanking the bench are also KALLAX in high gloss white from IKEA." What items did you find were essential when organizing this space and why? "The IKEA Kallax shelving I mentioned above. Making the entire left wall into storage using various shelving shapes really gave us an organization frame work and set us up for success. To give it depth and interest, I used various groups of baskets, small groups of books, playful objects and even pillows to make t not only functional but also pretty. In the closet I started out by ripping out the original closet hardware and installing two stacked shelves, which I knew would hold shoe box storage containers with craft knick knacks sorted by type. I also had the hubby install a simple peg board and I’ve used inexpensive pegs to hang and display wrapping necessities, gift bags, etc, because before they were so hidden that I would just continue to buy more as I never seemed to be able to find them when I needed them. I then bought another set of cubby shelves to store Landry’s puzzles, games and busy books. Since these are chunky and take up a lot of space, hiding them in the closet was the most aesthetically pleasing option and this cubby worked out perfectly. We also store all of her baby doll furniture in here as well for the same reason. The biggest game changer has definitely been the over the door organizer. It’s freed up so much space within the closet and I love that I can see everything arranged vertically and access it very easily. I was leery about spending over $100 on it, but I will tell you that it’s hands down the best money I’ve spent in months. I’m already dreaming up a massive pantry makeover with this bad boy! If you don’t have at least one of these in your home, trust me on this one! Now, here’s a look at the other side of the 'office' where there is storage and necessities like the printer. The chest is also from IKEA and is the MALM in white. I purchased a glass top for it since the printer sits on top of it." What did you do to go the extra mile and "make it pretty"? "The very first thing that we did was completely clear the room. We took everything off of the walls and painted the entire room white (Sherwin Williams: Alabaster), which really opened it up and accentuated every ounce of natural light coming through that one small window. I still can’t believe the difference a coat of white paint can make! It completely transformed this space from a dark dungeon-like room, into a bright, airy and open space that feels happy… I really splurged on design elements in my office space. Just because it's a shared space, didn't mean my office couldn't feel sophisticated and glam. The mirrored bamboo desk was definitely the spring board for the design and everything else fell into place. I also got some of my favorite art prints framed in gorgeous gold bamboo, which makes the small space feel custom." What items did you DIY to stay on a budget? "I was set on the marquee letter focal point in the playroom. When I began researching marquee letters, I found that most of the battery operated options were well over $30 each (which meant at least $150 to spell out #PLAY) and that was simply out of the budget that I had in mind. I ended up finding these letters on clearance for $6 each and spray painting them (meticulously covering each bulb) gold to achieve the look that I wanted. It turned out to be such a great focal and gives the room a big bang for the buck... plus Landry thinks it really cool!" How has the space impacted your life for the better? "It's been amazing for us! It's a space where we can play, work, interact and be creative in together and has really made working from home (while still being a stay at home mom) so much easier for me."
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So what do you think? With so many parents working from home these days, do you think you could share a space with your little? Or do you need solitude and separation (that's me). I think it is a great compromise to get things done while allowing kids to entertain themselves and their pals (and keep a close eye on younger ones), as long as some sound canceling headphones are involved. In fact, after a reader suggested I try out the headphones, it has been ridiculously helpful in keeping me focused, so thank you! The room has a lot of great zones setup to ensure it can serve a variety of purposes. There is a place to work, to play, to read, to sit, to twirl, to create with arts and crafts, to store toys and to tuck away craft/gift wrap clutter. Aside from the color palette, what I love most is the mix of high and low as well as a balance of form and function. Mallory did such a great job sourcing a few key expensive pieces, and then utilizing thrift store and IKEA finds to take care of the rest. She created such a striking balance in a space used by both a young child and an adult. You can check out her planning process and before photos here, and catch the full reveal (including product sources) on her blog here. * All images taken by Laura Sumrak and provided courtesy of Style Your Senses.
ATTENTION!! Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition? I would love to have you! I am on the hunt for projects that have made a positive impact to your life; big or small. They can be anything from an organized drawer, a DIY project or an entire room. Please submit your story and photos to [email protected], and I would heart to feature them right here on the blog! Photos should be high resolution and taken in natural day-light if possible (blog not necessary to participate). Please include a brief description of the project and how it has changed your life or routine for the better, and I will follow up for additional details prior to featuring. Oh! and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice! Only love goes on at this blog! I can't wait to hear from you and continue to celebrate all of those organizing successes!
via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/29CxwGM I’m slowly making it through my home tour this year and today I’m sharing the mud room with you. It’s a simple space but it definitely gets a daily workout. In the original home plans it’s supposed to have a closet laundry room but the original owners moved the laundry room upstairs (thank you to them!). The mudroom... (read more...) The post Mud Room Tour appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/29HWmY6
While we wait on a few deliveries for our laundry room and boy's den, I thought I would continue to work on the functionality of my office. When I last shared the space, I chatted a bit about needing to complete our printer cart project. Quite a few months ago I picked up a STUVA frame from IKEA, as well as two accompanying shelves, and the printer has just been tucked inside since. The cords needed wrangling and it wasn't the easiest to access for paper or ink changes; but that is no longer the case! Some things really do make a huge difference in your day-to-day life, and because I spend so much time at my desk, this project was one of those things!
Unfortunately, I purchased the box to the cart so long ago; I can no longer find it online. It was an item that IKEA carried for quite a few years, so I am not sure why I am unable to source the exact cabinet with the correct depth, but for reference it is from the STUVA line and is 19 1/4" deep by 23 5/8" wide by 25 1/4" tall. I have also used IKEA's BESTA cabinets and I believe they would also be a viable option for this type of setup. When I purchased the box unit, I also picked up two correlating shelves. And then things short of just sat for a bit (as seen in the last post)...
The box was assembled per IKEA directions and was a great size for fitting under my desk, it even left a little wiggle room above and below for moulding. The printer fit the cabinet great as well, however, there were times when it was difficult to access. I knew it would be much easier to utilize with the help of a pull out shelf. There were a variety of drawer slide options at Home Depot, however, I wanted something that could manage the weight of my large printer. I selected these heavy duty Liberty rails in the 18" length, and I also appreciated that they offer a full extension slide.
We began by attaching the glides to the inside of the cabinet with some simple screws, right at the bottom edge.
We then measured the total width of the glides and cut down one of the shelves to fit between them. Although I didn't photograph that step, we do recommend using a painter's tape to tape off your cut line and to prevent any fraying of the wood finish.
To attach the rail to the shelf, Bryan used the hardware to mark the appropriate location on the shelf edge and then pre-drilled holes along each side.
The next step was to attach the rails to the shelf with some wood screws; we went with a longer screw to ensure the shelf would be sturdy and strong when paired with the glides.
Then we just snapped the pull out shelf into place!
To help with the cord management, we used a hole saw bit to create an opening for printer and scanner cords in the back of the cabinet.
The weight of the printer was no problem for the new heavy duty pull out shelf!
I did quickly realize that the weight of the printer did make it a bit challenging for me to quickly and easily pull the printer shelf out, especially while sitting in my chair.
Because the front of the shelf doesn't have an open back to affix hardware the way a typical drawer would, I had to find a front mounting drawer pull. There were a variety of options online, but I found this one for under $3 locally and it worked just as well!
I have two types of paper that I print on frequently; a regular bright white paper and a cardstock weighted paper. To differentiate the two, I created some simple labels that I printed on clear sticker paper to affix to the stacking paper trays (font style Bromello).
At this point, I thought we were done, until I took a step back. I was not very happy with how my eye went straight for the gaps between the floor and the underside of the desk.
We are super fans of the crystal white foam moulding sold at Home Depot, and have used it throughout our entire lower level. It is all on mega sale right now (which makes me worried they will be clearancing it out), and I purchased a piece for the floor of the cabinet for around $1. It is easily cut with a simple miter box and I affixed it with a brad nailer at the base. I also attached some door/window casing at the top of the cabinet.
Moulding is always and instant game changer in any project, and this was no exception. Prior to adding the moulding to the top, we wedged a piece of wood between the printer cart and the top of the desk to provide additional support above.
The moulding gave the cart a polished "built-in" look and feel, without actually being built-in at all.
I contemplated having the upper shelf be a pull-out option as well, but for the added expense of the glide in comparison to the frequency I use my scanner, I didn't feel like it was necessary for now. The cool thing is that I can always easily change that down the road should I ever feel differently.
There was a lack of color in this little area (and we all know how I feel about that), so I lined the front of a clear magazine file with some leftover gift wrap and tucked my paint decks inside.
Steps like this make the office feel more legit and complete, and also increase the overall functionality. I am getting closer and closer to adding some decorative touches and then calling this space finito!
For easier reference, below you can find a quick round-up of the products used in this post:
* affiliate links used via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/29AgN5y While the majority of picture taking these days is done digitally, if you are anything like many, you have a stash of photos tucked away somewhere in your home. It may be intended for your child’s baby book or precious family photographs from years past that you have been meaning to put in a photo... (read more...) The post 4 Steps to Organized Photos appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/29Gh5Mk
When I recently posted about my current office setup, I shared some of the thought process as well as the space planning diagrams I utilized. I have been using Microsoft Excel to put together space plans and diagrams for many, many years now. In fact, I recently stumbled upon a post from five years ago in which you all asked for a tutorial. And another in February when I shared some little lady closet plans in this post. I even used it to put together our home's floor plan shown in our home tour tab. So although this post is WAY overdue, I have been hesitant to share this tutorial for a few reasons. First, I am not sure this is the most effective or quick way to create space plans (OK, I know it is not). I have been playing around in Excel for about ten years, so it is quick and easy for me; and it takes me less time to use it than to learn a whole new program meant for this specific task. Secondly, this post is about to get lengthy. There are a lot of different options and steps that can be used, so I wanted to share as many shortcuts and quick tips as possible in a single post. I should also note that I am doing this tutorial with my Mac; however, I believe many of the steps also apply to Windows (although it has been awhile so I apologize if there are any major differences). Let's get started.
Okay, so the entire goal is to do some general space planning. I like to look at it like digital graph paper. The first step I take is to create a grid of even squares out of the worksheet cells. Once you open a new workbook, select all of the cells and adjust the height and width to an even size. For this example, I selected .10 inches for both the height and width. You will want to use the grid to assign a mental measurement for each square (your graph to real life scale). If I am doing a single closet, I might assign an inch to each square. If I am doing a whole room or floor plan, I might assign 6" or a foot to each square. It all depends on the desired accuracy and size of the end result. I am going to put together an entryway closet plan for this example. The made up closet is 4 feet wide, 2 feet deep and 8 feet tall. I quickly convert all general measurements to inches, and jot them down on a scrap sheet of paper. To create the outline of the project, I begin by selecting a single cell and holding down the Shift key, arrowing over the correct number cells to equal my total inches. The mouse can also be used to select and drag the cells to highlight. There is no need to count each individual cell; you can see how many cells are selected in the upper left corner of your workbook. If you begin to select enough cells and they are no longer all on the visible page, your number selected will move down to your workspace. You can border/outline these cells two ways; by clicking the border selection dropdown from the home menu bar... Or by right clicking the highlighted cells and selecting Format Cells. This pretend closet is four feet wide, but has a door opening of 30", so I illustrated the opening with a different border style. I like to select a variety of border styles to highlight specific areas/wall types of the plans. Once I have the main outline determined and scaled/drafted, I begin sourcing additional features. For example, I would recommend shoe cubbies that can also double as a bench inside of this closet. I found a piece of furniture online that would fit the four foot space, and using the product dimensions listed on the website, I was able to begin adding it to my design. You can be as specific or generic as you wish when preparing the plans; I like a little detail to identify my ideas. The copy & paste function allows me to quickly add those repetitive details. One of the reasons I love going through this exercise, is because it really forces me to think through product purchases and space measurements. In this coat closet; I would add a rod above the shoe cubbies, however, my initial attempt didn't leave enough room to hang a bulky winter jacket. I found this website to be extremely helpful when space planning closets, and it told me I should provide 40-44" for hanging outerwear (vs. the 38" in my initial design above). I continued to source product to complete the design; an Elfa system for one 15" door and a utility organizer for the other. I can now be fairly confident that everything should fit because I have triple checked dimensions and have been forced to pay attention to detail as I transfer the product to the plans. If you are using this for solely for your own ideas and plans, you may stop at this point and feel good about starting the real life project. Because I present a lot of these ideas to others, and here on the web, I take things a bit further. To clean up the design, I fill the entire page with white. Again, to differentiate areas of the design, I fill cells with a variety of color. For example, the inside of the closet could be painted pale blue and the hanging rod can be stained a wood tone. When it comes to any specific prop items, you can either insert a graphic, image/photo, or a shape. When I look at the types of objects I tend to add to these designs (storage boxes, baskets, cleaning supplies, etc...), I visualize everything in shapes. Once the shapes are added to the workbook, they can be formatted down to the color, line style and thickness, size and even shadows. Just select the specific shape you wish to format (or hold down the Shift key to highlight multiple shapes at once), and make changes using the tools available in the Format tab. You can also change the order of these floating shapes, or group them together to create a single object. After I have played enough, I have my first view of the closet design. This view shows the entire closet design plan and products, while the dashed line indicates the door opening. Still not done! I like to have a few different views of the design to share, but because I don't want to lose the current view, I make a copy of it. Select the current worksheet tab at the bottom of your project, right click and select 'Move or Copy...'. It is important to select 'Create a Copy' when the option box appears. Now you can make some additional adjustments without having to completely replicate all of your work from scratch. For the second visual, I wanted to show the outer walls of the closet, and create some text to point out specific product details. Text can be added by going to the Insert menu, and adding a Text Box. Once you type the text, just as you formatted your shapes, you can make similar changes to your fonts and text boxes. I also like to add in arrows to really call out the products. Quick Tip: The arrow lines will automatically connect from your font box to a shape, but not to a general cell. To get the exact line shape you are after (I like arrows with a good swoop), add another small shape to act as a connector where you want your arrow to end, and then delete it once your arrow is in place. For the last visual, I like to provide specific dimensions of key components. Again, I start by creating a copy of my workbook, and use the Text Box and Shape features to accomplish this. Lastly, I do a lot of copying and pasting whenever possible, especially with fonts and arrows. Another really helpful tip to speed up the process is to utilize the Format Painter tool. The Format Painter tool allows you to quickly apply the same formatting, such as color, font style, size, and border style, to multiple pieces of text or graphics. Think of it as copying and pasting for formatting. To do this, simply select the cell, shape or text box you want to replicate, then click the paint brush button at the top of the screen. Now click the new item that you want to take on that formatting, and it should instantly update accordingly. Try it a few times, you will fall in love! Another way to do less busy work, is to set a default line style. Once you have formatted one line (or arrow), select it, right click and then choose 'Set as Default Line'. Maybe it is the creative in me that gets all geeked out about this type of thing, and could get lost in it for hours. I have been using Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets, charts and project planning for so many years now, and yet I still learn new tricks every day. The little ? at the top of the screen is clicked on often here, and it is how I have learned everything I know. What I love most is that I really can be as creative as I wish, and I don't need to purchase or learn expensive software to whip up an idea. I have just begun to dabble in Google Sketch-up, and if I can master a few basics, I will be sure to share that experience as well. Feel free to let me know if there was anything that I glossed over; I am sure there are a few details I may have missed but I am happy to answer additional questions below. So what do you say? Are you ready to give this digital graph paper a try? via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/29tyvLZ I thought it would be fun to start a little series about working from home. I love working from home but I’m also realistic in what is and isn’t possible for me in different seasons of life while working from home. How about a little backstory first: I have been blogging and running a business since... (read more...) The post Working From Home : Flexibility is Essential appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/29Nmyyl |
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