1) Living Room: The living room is where you probably spend most of your time, and it’s also the room where family and friends will gather. You need to have space in your living room to entertain and also just to feel relaxed. When you’re surrounded by junk, it’s oppressive and can clutter your thoughts. Get rid of the clutter by storing items underneath the couch. You can purchase inexpensive couch risers that will allow you to slide shallow plastic containers underneath. You can store things here and they’ll be out of sight, especially if you use a slip cover that hangs down far enough to cover the secret storage.

2) Bathroom: Bathroom storage is always short, even in big homes. This isn’t necessarily because the space isn’t there, but mostly because the space isn’t used correctly. A normal bathroom vanity has two cabinets underneath, or one large space. There is plenty of square footage under there; it’s just wasted unless you have the right shelves or drawers to fill it up. We really like the wire racks that can be installed inside the vanity cabinets. Some of these will slide out to reveal two or three baskets that can be used for all of your shampoo bottles, bathroom cleaners, washcloths, and more. Other useful installations are drawers and shelves. Simple riser shelves that hold things up where you can see them behind the front row are useful. Wire shelves that are designed to fit in lockers are very inexpensive and lock together to form useful and adjustable shelving.

3) Closets: Your closets are most likely totally cramped and full, but there is actually usable space in there that many people don’t use. Look up high, in front of your hanging bar, and behind your hanging clothes. If there are a few inches (or even feet!) of space there, then you can rearrange to make better use of the space. Hanging bars can be moved back to make room for shelving on the front walls of the closet. That big shelf at the top could be higher and even wider, or it could extend from the ends to the front of the closet. Figure out how to make more room in there simply by moving things around. You can hang short items together and make room beneath. You can also use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to double or triple the closet space by cascading and coordinating outfits.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

Apartments generally cost more if they have more closet or cabinet space than apartments that may have even more square footage. This is because most people are fed up with not having enough room for their stuff. Everything gets cluttered and disorganized making you feel like your living space isn’t big enough. But if you learn a few tricks, you can get away with living in smaller and smaller places, saving you money.

If you plan to live in an apartment forever, then you really should invest in space saving furniture. There are lots of different options when it comes to this. Many items, such as ottomans, coffee tables, and end tables come in a wide variety of styles that offer storage. Coffee tables and end tables, along with the arms of couches, ottomans and chairs, can open up to reveal storage. You may find a bed with drawers underneath to store your out of season clothes. Furniture like this makes it easy to store things outside of the closet.

You can also decorate with items that give you storage. For example, a trunk is an attractive decorative piece that gives you a place to store linens, blankets, and other bulky items. A bench that opens up to reveal storage is great for a front entryway because it gives you somewhere to stash things that generally clutter around the front door. A rolling garment rack can give you a place to hang bulky items or help you to manage laundry. Inexpensive shelves can be hung all around the apartment for knick knacks and photos, leaving your table tops free for organizers.

In your closets, you can use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to give yourself extra room. These slim hangers are great for allowing you to hang items close together. They also have attachments and hanger accessories, such as cascading hooks and clips. Specialty hangers allow you to hang multiple pants, skirts, ties, scarves, and belts on one hanger. Using hangers like this will help you to triple the space in your closet.

Once you’ve given yourself a lot of storage options, you can concentrate on limiting what you allow into the apartment. When you buy something, ask yourself if you need it or if you simply want it. Do this and you can be happy in your apartment for many years without feeling cluttered.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Take measurements of the spaces in your closets that you are not using. There may be room between your top shelf storage items and the ceiling. There may be room in front of these items between the shelf and the front wall of the closet. There may be a foot or two free underneath your hanging clothes before you get to the shoes. Most people are surprised when they find out that they have around one hundred square feet empty in their seemingly packed closets.

2) Figure out where space is being wasted and learn how to utilize those spaces. An additional shelf may be added to the top of the closet. Make sure that you avoid the light by at least twelve inches in all directions. You may be able to add a shelf or two over the closet door, inside and out. The front and back corners of the closet may be prime places for shelving to go. Doubling up your hanging bars is an easy and inexpensive way to double closet storage fast. If you still have longer items that don’t work well with a double bar, hang a third one on the empty sides of the closet.

3) Getting rid of as much as possible is a great way to quickly and easily make some closet space, but it often isn’t enough. This is especially true if you share your closet with a spouse or need space to store your off-season clothing. You can use flat, space saving hangers, like velvet hangers to make your clothes fit closely together without getting tangled or wrinkled on the bar. Cascading hooks make it easy to pair up outfits, coordinates, and other like items. Combining hangers like this can help you double or triple the space that you had available on your closet rod.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

Getting rid of as much as possible is a liberating feeling. Think about how much you pay for the space that you have. Now think about how much your storage space is worth. If the clutter is not worth the price of the area that it is consuming, then maybe it’s time to rethink how much that junk is actually worth to you.

Storing clothes that you might fit into one day is generally a good idea if you actually think that you’ll get back into them. However, it is generally not a good idea to save the entire wardrobe of that size. Not only do clothes quickly go out of fashion, but the space they rob you of makes keeping them too much of an investment. Keep a few items that mean a lot to you or that are particularly “timeless”. Get rid of the rest and reward yourself for losing weight by buying new clothes when the time comes.

Creating storage for other items around the home can help you to get the clutter out of sight and out of mind. Clear out cabinets of dishes, pots and pans that you never use. Give them away and make room for storing things that you actually need. Use cabinets and closet shelves to help you make room for containers that can hold chargers, computer equipment, photos and books. Scan documents that you need to keep and put them away so that you can access them without having to dig them out of storage.

Make extra room in your closets by using space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to consolidate clothing and minimize the space that they occupy. You’ll be amazed at how you can double or triple space in your closets simply by using cascading and specialty space saving hangers.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Chances are, you own more than you need. When we buy new clothes, for example, we don’t usually think to throw out or give away the old ones. The same goes for shoes, cameras, socks, make-up, you name it. We don’t like to throw out or give away usable items. There are a couple of ways to tackle this problem. Set limits for yourself on what you can own. Have a basket or bin for things that you think you won’t use anymore. If you can’t bear to give it away immediately, keep it in this holding area to see if you really miss it or not. Only allow yourself to buy new things if you get rid of something old.

2) Make an assessment of your space. You can, for example, make a sock bin and hang it on the wall of your closet. Make an educated guess about how many socks you need to own and how much space you are able to spare for them. When the basket gets a little full, start going through the bottom and decide which socks you didn’t wear much over the last year. Get rid of them if they’re not your favorites.

3) One benefit of setting limits for yourself like this, is that you end up buying higher quality products that you’ll really love and be able to use for a long time. Being picky is a good thing. You may be thinking that this sounds like an expensive option, but it really isn’t if you think about how often you have to get rid of cheap clothes and shoes that tear up or shrink in the wash. You’ll end up spending less over the long term if you are careful about what you let occupy the little space that you have.

4) Use organizers, racks and bins to keep the space limited. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to make the most space in your closet while protecting those delicate or expensive garments. You’ll love your newly organized little space and enjoy not having the clutter that you used to.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

People choose to simplify for a multitude of often personal reasons. Sometimes it’s just necessary to reduce because larger living spaces are so expensive. Living in a small apartment, condo, or efficiency can make it seem hard to keep down the clutter. You may be feeling like the tight space is closing in on you simply because you don’t have anywhere to put the belongings that you need to keep. Use these tips to learn how successful simpletons manage and love their smaller, more simplified lives.

1) First, start simplifying by reducing the stresses that occupy your everyday life. Something as simple as paying bills can be turned from a dreary task to a quick and paperless endeavor. Most banks offer online bill paying options that can be set up to automatically pay your bills for you, or you can go on and pay them yourself in only seconds. No paper bills, no stamps, no checks, no errands to the post office, and you are just blissfully done with a super minimal amount of effort.

2) Getting rid of excess in your home can be liberating. Before you buy something or decide to keep an item, always consider whether it is something that you need, if it could be replaced with a smaller or more efficient model, or if it is simply something that you want? Many people are able to get rid of a lot of sentimental clutter by keeping a scrapbook documenting items instead of the actual items that can take up space. If you’re keeping things because of the memories that they possess, then you will be just as happy reminiscing while looking at a photo of the item. The freedom and control of your surroundings that you feel is very addictive and will help you to keep things simple in other aspects of your life.

3) Storage is a problem for many people living in small spaces. Utilizing furniture that doubles as storage is a great way to hide storage items around your home without taking up any extra space at all. Installing a good closet system is another way to make the best use of the storage space that you have. You would be amazed at the volume of space that is wasted in most people’s closets. Vertical space should be utilized all over your home, but in the closet, it can make and enormous difference. Another way to make a difference is to use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to double or triple the space in your closet. Simplify the process of getting ready for work or to go out by cascading your hangers to coordinate outfits. No more searching for that shirt that goes with the pants you want to wear. Use these and other space saving strategies around your home and you can have a simply organized living space before you know it.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Hanging shelves are great for closets and other areas where you might be able to make some storage happen. It’s usually not that you don’t have space available; it’s that you haven’t thought of how to most effectively use the space that you do have. Vertical space is often ignored and shelves are often too shallow to store everything that you need to.

2) Find spaces that you didn’t know you had. Sometimes a unique or creative arrangement of shelves inside of your cabinets can give you more space than you imagined. Look around the house and determine the spaces that are not being used efficiently. If shelves are too far apart, there will be empty space above your bins, books, boxes, or whatever you have there. Try adding shelves or hanging an undershelf basket from the higher shelves. These are great for storing smaller items, computer paper, baseball caps, socks, magazines, or toys.

3) Look up! You can install shelves above doorways and around the ceiling. This is a modern way of creating storage or display space without cluttering up the room with big shelves. A shelf above a door that displays your favorite things or stores your cookbooks is not only an easy clutter solution, but it can give your home a unique feel.

4) Corner that clutter. Have you ever considered adding corner shelves to the bottom corners of the room, the front corners of the closet, or up the kitchen corner? You can create spaces for canned foods, pictures, books, knick knacks, and more. A lot of times we use our shelf space for displaying things like art or mementos. If we can get these things away from our larger storage areas and onto smaller shelves, we can make a lot of space with very little effort.

5) Utilize products that make space happen. There are many closet accessories that can be used all over the home. Make storage space in your closet by using velvet hangers, which are thin, space saving hangers. You can piggy-back them, use clips, and cascade clothing from them tripling closet space in minutes. Using tricks like this can help you to discover just how much hidden space there really is in your home.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Living Room: The living room is where you probably spend most of your time, and it’s also the room where family and friends will gather. You need to have space in your living room to entertain and also just to feel relaxed. When you’re surrounded by junk, it’s oppressive and can clutter your thoughts. Get rid of the clutter by storing items underneath the couch. You can purchase inexpensive couch risers that will allow you to slide shallow plastic containers underneath. You can store things here and they’ll be out of sight, especially if you use a slip cover that hangs down far enough to cover the secret storage.

2) Bathroom: Bathroom storage is always short, even in big homes. This isn’t necessarily because the space isn’t there, but mostly because the space isn’t used correctly. A normal bathroom vanity has two cabinets underneath, or one large space. There is plenty of square footage under there; it’s just wasted unless you have the right shelves or drawers to fill it up. We really like the wire racks that can be installed inside the vanity cabinets. Some of these will slide out to reveal two or three baskets that can be used for all of your shampoo bottles, bathroom cleaners, washcloths, and more. Other useful installations are drawers and shelves. Simple riser shelves that hold things up where you can see them behind the front row are useful. Wire shelves that are designed to fit in lockers are very inexpensive and lock together to form useful and adjustable shelving.

3) Closets: Your closets are most likely totally cramped and full, but there is actually usable space in there that many people don’t use. Look up high, in front of your hanging bar, and behind your hanging clothes. If there are a few inches (or even feet!) of space there, then you can rearrange to make better use of the space. Hanging bars can be moved back to make room for shelving on the front walls of the closet. That big shelf at the top could be higher and even wider, or it could extend from the ends to the front of the closet. Figure out how to make more room in there simply by moving things around. You can hang short items together and make room beneath. You can also use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to double or triple the closet space by cascading and coordinating outfits.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

First, find the clutter. Even if you’re surrounded by it, chances are there are some areas that are harder to control than others. Most people end up creating clutter by putting their things down when they come in the door. If you don’t have a good plan, your keys, wallet, cell phone, laptop, backpack, mail, and other daily use items can end up in a heap.

Digging through heaps of things is not the way to start out your day. The stress that comes from living in clutter can be a very real health hazard. Starting off your organization process with the front area of your apartment will get you off on the right foot. Use an end table, a trunk, a locker style organization shelf, or whatever you can think of to hold your daily use items. Use hooks for bags, cubbies for shoes, a wall mount hanging bar for coats, and a small table for charging phones while organizing wallets and keys. Make sure that you make a place for other things that commonly pile up, like mail.

If you’re lucky, you have a coat closet in your apartment. This can be a great place, not only to hang coats and stow shoes, but also to hold shelves, bins, buckets, and other small items. Things like scarves, hats and gloves can get scattered if they have nowhere to go. Use door organizers to keep these things organized and out of sight.

Now that the living area is organized, spend some time on your bedroom. The bedroom closet can be extremely useful, even if it leaves something to be desired. Creating space for bulky storage items may seem like an impossibility. However, you can make the most of the space that you have by using space saving hangers, like velvet hangers.

Velvet hangers are flat and hang close together, much like wire hangers. But, they are much sturdier and won’t bend under the weight of the clothes. The velvet coating keeps clothes from slipping off while the curvature of the hanger is perfectly shaped for specific sizes and types of clothing. Cascading hooks and specialty styles can help you keep your closet organized while revealing more space than you may have imagined.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

1) Your attitude matters more than you think. If you’re totally stressed and sad that you have to live in a place so small, then you won’t get much done for a while. A negative attitude can cloud your judgment and keep you from using your creativity to make the space work. You need to adopt a minimalist attitude. You don’t need a million possessions to be happy. Possessions don’t make you who you are. Society dictates that we consume more and more each day. However, you have the power to rise above and live your life more efficiently.

2) Now that you’ve adopted your “can do” attitude, it’s time to get to work. You are probably surrounded by boxes and furniture. Go through and categorize everything. Rate your belongings on a scale of 1-10. If you really need it to live and eat, rate it as number one. These things will be the highest priority. Scale everything down to ten. Now, decide how much room you have by putting away everything rated as number one, then two, three, and so forth. When you run out of room, everything else should go.

3) Be picky about what you keep. You don’t want piles of junk all around you or you’ll always feel cramped and stressed. Try to get a few functional pieces of furniture that have storage inside. Install shelving above your doors, in the corners, and under the windows. Invest a little in closet organizers and a pantry organizer. Put large drawers under your bed and couch. Create storage wherever you can if you need to store more than your small living space will allow.

4) Bulky furniture is often unnecessary. You can make room for a large capacity armoire by getting rid of a dresser. Dressers are very inefficient. Clothes are stacked inside where you can’t see them or get them out without unfolding half of the stack. We end up hiding miscellaneous items in the drawers and soon they become crowded with junk. Using an armoire for blankets and other bulky household items saves you closet space. With some space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, some baskets, shelves, and storage bins, you can put every piece of clothing you own inside of the closet. When you store something, ask yourself if this is the most efficient way to store before you decide that the item is in its permanent spot.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.