oss••o•e:

• kl For containers that

stay on display, bins in a nice material (wicker,

canvas or colorful acrylic) can actually

be a welcome addition to the decor.

Organize

inch of your home

28 easy tips and inexpensive picks to cut clutter and

maximize storage space.

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ENTRY Neaten up this zone with bins, hooks and shelves.

CMID The top 4 feet of the room Add a ledge or shelf to the mudroom, entryway coat closet and pass-through spaces to stash seldom-used items like holiday decorations or the vitamins you bought in bulk.

TRY THIS: ClosetMaid 3'x12" Ventilated Wire Shelf Kit, $14; homedepot.com

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2 LIVING ROOM Keep this comfy space pretty and tidy with double-duty furnishings.

CRAP TH • •

Overwhelmed by all the manuals for your TV and other devices? Toss the

print versions to streamline storage if a digital copy

is available online.

C!333 Built-ins and bookshelves Shelves can usually be adjusted. Fit more by raising or lowering them to accommodate taller or shorter books, frames and decorative items.

■ STORAGE OTTOMANS From bench-size trunks to petite poufs, plop these pieces around the house to hold extra pillows, double as seating or act as an in-a- pinch snack table.

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Accent tables don't just hold lamps! Choose one with a drawer, door or

shelves underneath to give yourself a

spot for magazines, remote controls

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SMART PIECE

Don't want to buy a new end table?

Throw a tablecloth over one of your own

to create storage space underneath.

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48 womansday.com October 2012

0

SMART PIECE Pull out any empty

hangers and dry- cleaning bags in your closet. You have more

hanging space than you thought! CMG

Your closet Put in another bar about 30

inches below your standard one

to double your hanging space.

Look for one that attaches to your current rod for a construction-

free fix.

TRY THIS: Double Hang Closet Rod, $10; containerstore.com

3 BEDROOM Cleverly concealed add-ons boost storage without sacrificing serenity.

CID Under the bed Roll - out bins transform this dust bunny den into prime real estate for extra linens or out-of-season clothing. If you don't mind the added height, bed risers will give you even more room down below. A tailored skirt will hide it all.

TRY THIS: ClearView Under-Bed Storage Box, $17; target.com . Mahogany Wood Bed Lifts, $25 for a set of 4; bedbathandbeyond.com.

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DRESSER WITH MORE DRAWERS Don't settle for the standard four! A taller five- or six- drawer dresser takes up the same amount of floor space, but gives you a vertical foot or more of storage. Plus, those upper compartments tend to be smaller—and less likely to turn into a jumble.

•

50 womansday.com October 2012

Reuse & reorganize Save money by repurposing these items into storage superstars.

Shower curtain rings Use them to...make a hanger for silk scarves and neckties. Just clip them together and hang from your closet rod.

■ Silverware trays Use them to...stash lots of little

things, like pens, pencils and scissors on your desk or makeup in a bathroom cabinet drawer.

■ Over-the-door shoe organizers Use them to...corral everything from winter accessories (hats, gloves) in an entryway closet to dry goods (pasta, crackers) in the pantry.

■ Paper towel holders Use them to...stack bangle bracelets—or attach one that mounts to a wall or the back of the closet door as a necklace hanger.

■ Letter sorters Use them to...hold plastic storage lids upright in your cabinet.

■ Side-loading letter trays Use them to...organize takeout menus, recipe ideas and phone lists in your kitchen cabinet.

■ Plant urns Use them to...hold oversize utensils that won't fit into your kitchen cabinets.

■ Ice cube trays Use them to...store easily lost accessories. The best part? They're stackable!

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When it comes to non-display storage vessels, choose ones that hit the three S's: squared-off, stacking

and see-through.

Locate sneaky spots that can work harder above or behind your most-accessed areas.

KITCHEN & UTILITY ROOMS

CMID The space above your cars Install platform shelving 2 feet below your garage's ceiling to gain extra storage all around the perimeter—and still be able to open your car doors.

TRY THIS: Shelving from $159 for 2'x6' shelf; saferacks.com

CM9 Kitchen cabinets

Most cabinets are about 2 feet deep, and chances are the stuff in the

back hasn't seen the light of day in

years. Retrofit base cabinets with

slide-out drawers and it's all easily

accessible.

TRY THIS: Premier Pullout Shelving, from $42 for 6"w x 23%"d; kitchenshelves.corn

54 womansday.com { October 2012

Divided storage boxes

"These fabric- covered boxes

are pretty enough to

display, but come with dividers, nesting pieces and a top that doubles as a

tray for maximal organization."

DEB LEE Owner of D. Allison Lee, Marlboro, MD

Bento Box, $7 to $23 each; rubbermaid.com

for stores

WIN IT! 5 readers will win a 7-piece set of

Rubbermaid Bento Containers (value $114). Snap on the

tag to enter. No purchase necessary to win prize.

Please see instructions and abbreviated rules on pane II. Your carrier's standard

Internet rates will apply.

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56 womansday.com { October 2012

PRO PICKS What organizing experts keep on hand to conquer clutter in their own homes.

2 Adhesive

hooks "A quick—and

temporary—way to create hanging space without hammering

a nail. In a range of sizes and finishes,

they'll fit right in with the rest of your hardware."

ELLEN FAYE Owner of Ellen Faye

Organization, Cherry Hill, NJ

Command Hooks, $6.50 to $13 each; command.com for stores

3 Clear

stackable boxes

GG Anywhere from the pantry

to the linen closet, use these to corral smaller

items (snack bars, extra soap) and keep them

visible.•• KATHRYN BECHEN

Author of Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-

Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space

Clear Shoe Boxes, $1.89 each; containerstore.com

1 Space bags "They really do

work! Stash seasonal clothing or linens in these bags, then use your vacuum to suck

out the air so they take up less room."

DONNA SMALLIN KUPER Author of How to Declutter

and Make Money Now

Space bags, $10 to $40 each; bedbathandbeyond.com

Open-weave plastic baskets

"Use these to pull forward the items in deep cabinets—

and the fridge! The open sides make them good for veggies, and the handle

makes them easy for young or old hands to grip•"

BARRY IZSAK CPO & Founder of Arranging it All,

Austin, TX

Iris Plastic Mesh Baskets with Handles, $22.49 for 3; organize.com

Skinny felted hangers GG They take up less space

in your closet and the texture keeps silky fabrics

from sliding off. •• VICKI NORRIS

President of Restoring Order, Portland, OR

Felt hangers, $15 for 20 adult hangers, $7 for 10 kids' hangers; neatfreak.corn for stores