Home Storage Solutions: Ways To Organize Your Home
By Michael J. Holland
www.home-decorating-made-easy.com

Without a doubt, there are plenty of home storage solutions to help
organize your home life. But...

what you may not realize is that from a home interior decorating
perspective, getting rid of, or organizing, clutter can beautify your
home.

For example, a room without clutter will appear larger and more
inviting. In addition, some of the available storage solutions can be
decorative furniture pieces.

Of course, the home storage solution you choose will depend on the
type of items you want to store and the frequency with which you need
to retrieve them.

Before I provide you with a list of potential home storage solutions,
let's first have a heart-to-heart chat about the things you can't
seem to part with.

- Do you really need to hold on to those old magazines that date back
to the start of your subscription?

- Are you holding on to clothing from the '80's? the 70's, heaven
forbid?

- Do you have furnishings that you've held on to for yearsajust
because?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you my friend
are a closet pack rat? Yes, its true!

But don't worry, I feel your pain. I too sometimes battle with the
temptation to keep things that I "may" need in the future. But in the
vast majority of cases, the items have simply wound up gathering dust
and taking up space.

So here's your first task before you select home storage solutions
for your items. Go from room to room, including the closets, garage,
attic, and basement and pull out all those items that you are holding
on toafor no good reason.

My rule of thumb is that if you don't foresee wearing it or using it
within the next 12 months, then seriously consider giving it to
someone who would enjoy it more. Obviously this excludes important
papers and key reference materials.

All is not lost, however. You can earn money from your discarded
items by having a garage sale. Or, you can simply make a charitable
donation to a non-profit organization such as a church or a shelter.
Be sure to get a receipt so that you can deduct the value of the
items on your next tax return.

Once you've eliminated the things you don't need, consider these home
storage solutions for the items that you keep:

Home Storage Solutions - Furniture:

Armoire - You can find armoires in many styles and storage
configurations. They will add beauty and presence to any room. In
general, I would recommend using an over-sized armoire for storage
rather than two small pieces of furniture. From a home interior
decorating perspective, your room will appear much bolder and
interesting.

Chest of drawers - If you need to separate items by type, then a
chest of drawers would be a good choice. As with an armoire, I
recommend that you get one that is large with deep drawers.
Storage chests/trunks - These are good for storing bulk items such as
quilts and blankets. Of course, you can use them to store toys,
books, or just about anything else. Many of the trunks can also
double as coffee and end tables.

Home Storage Solutions - Closet Organizers:

I recommend that you visit your local hardware store and check out
their offerings for closet organizers. If you have the heavy wire
type configuration in your closet, like I do, you'll find additional
wire baskets and shelving to expand your storage space.

Home Storage Solutions - Shelves:

Pre-built shelves - The great thing about shelves is that you can
take advantage of a wall's vertical space. Many are quite decorative
and can be used to store or display personal items and collectibles.
Bookcases - A custom built bookcase can be used to make a statement
or be the focal point of a room. However, there are many quality
assemble-it-yourself options. Bookcases can also be used to store
sheets, towels, and other linens.

Curio cabinets - They are great for displaying collectibles and
personal items. Many come with adjustable shelves, lighting, and
decorative molding.

Home Storage Solutions - Baskets, Bins, Other:

They come in many shapes and sizes. I recommend that you look for
bins and containers that can slide under beds and tables. Also
consider modular containers that can be stacked to take advantage of
vertical spaces. Large baskets can be very decorative while storing
toys or other small items.

If your home storage solutions include shelves, cabinets, armoires,
trunks, or other similar furniture pieces, Furniture Find is a site
that I recommend you browse for a wide selection of these items.
They offer thousands of brand name furniture pieces at discounted
prices. Also, you'll find lots of online images that give great
decorating ideas.

A major benefit of Furniture Find is that they offer many more items
than any brick and mortar shop. And through their free Personal
Shopper service they will search high and low for any item that you
can't find on their web site.

So even if you spot something you like at your local furniture store,
put Furniture Find to work to see if the price can be beaten. You
have nothing to lose!
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Michael Holland is the author of "The Awaken Your Interior Designer!
Collection." His web site, http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com,
offer lots of FREE home decorating tips and ideas. Visit his site and
subscribe to his free decorating ezine, DecoDreams http://www.home-
decorating-made-easy.com/free-interior-decorating-ideas.html