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.

Make sure that your furniture is functional as storage areas. Furniture in the bedroom can make it look nice and finished out. However, if it doesn’t work for you, it can end up being a place to stack things. You can raise your bed with risers to create more storage underneath. Use a dust ruffle to cover what you have stored under there. Drawers on casters, flat plastic containers, and even shoe organizers are great things to put underneath the bed.

Your dressers may have plenty of drawers to store some of your extra items. However, if you keep all of your clothes in them, then they may not be serving you as well as they could. Arranging your closet so that it can accommodate your clothes will allow you to clear out most of your dresser drawers for storage. Now, you may be wondering why you should swap out using your dressers for clothes and your closet for storage, so I’ll tell you why.

Dresser drawers can be useful for storing clothes, but generally only for a couple of layers. You can’t see what you have when you get to those deeper drawers, so you end up unfolding the stack or not finding what you’re looking for. Drawers, especially deeper ones, can be great places to store items that you don’t have to get to very often.

If you use your closet for clothes, then you can more easily see what you have. You can use clear bins for smaller things and hang your everyday clothes. Using space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, will allow you to fit your clothing closely together without wrinkling them or having them slip off onto the floor.

Using closet and hanger accessories that are made to save space in your closet can help you to maximize the space, even if you don’t think you have enough room. Cascading hooks, specialty hangers, and hanging shelves are all very inexpensive ways of doubling or tripling the space in your closet. Using velvet hangers will help you ensure that your closet will look stylish and your clothes will be protected from damage.

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.

The best way to be successful is to set aside time to organize. Depending on your project, it may not be a good idea to tackle it all in one day. Getting your whole home organized can be an ongoing process, so try to be patient. Your diligence will pay off. As you discover what works for you in one area, you should be inspired to carry on the techniques that have paid off to different areas of your home.

Start with the areas that are really bugging you. These are generally junk piles that just seem to accumulate no matter what you do. You get it clean and through the course of one day, it’s junky again. This is usually due to the fact that your family is in the habit of tossing things into the areas that are already junky.

Identify the problem areas and see what types of items are always ending up there. Whether it’s newspapers, mail, homework, lunchboxes, hats, shoes, keys, cell phones, or just trash, you should create a space to manage it. If backpacks are always landing in one spot, then install some hooks and label them with each person’s name. If shoes are a problem, get a large bin or shoe rack and put it where everyone takes off their shoes.

You can put organizers for mail, keys, wallets, purses, and cell phones either in your entryway or kitchen, wherever they tend to pile up. It’s easiest for everyone to stay organized if you provide the organizational tools and install them in the area that the family already uses. People are really creatures of habit and our routines are soothing. Changing the area too much just about ensures that no one will use it after the first few days. The junk will be piling up again and the organizers will be empty.

Once you get your key areas straight, think about your closets. Closets are great for storing items and keeping them out of sight. However, you need to use your closets for your clothing, too. So, you need to find a way to save space so that you can do both. One trick is to move your top shelf up closer to the ceiling. This moves your storage items up and leaves you more space to organize your clothes. You can use things like space saving hangers, such as velvet hangers, to make the most of your hanging space.

When you get your home organized in a way that works, it is more likely that it will stay that way.

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 simply gives us more time to enjoy life. Just imagine how much less time you could spend cleaning, organizing, shopping, and worrying if your life was streamlined into a wistful, predictable bliss. Of course, things will come up. But, having a commitment to making your life more livable and less stressful will give you the outlook that you need to make it through the rough patches.

2) Start by reducing your possessions. Ask yourself if you really need it or if it really makes you happy. Why did you buy the item in the first place? Did it make you happy when you bought it? Does it still retain its value to you? Getting rid of things that clutter your home will help you to free your mind. It is a very powerful feeling to have control over the number of possessions that you have. Many people are so happy with the control that they feel that they don’t miss the things that they got rid of, at all.

3) Go through your home and find piles of junk. Everybody has some clutter that could be reduced. Focus on one section of your home at a time and try to keep only what you really use. If you have a lot of dishes, keep only your favorite ones. If you only have one frying pan, you’ll have to clean it every time you use it. No more dishes piling up in the sink. If you don’t have back-ups for putting things off, then they’ll have to be done in small doses. No more weekend days that consist of only cleaning. You can’t procrastinate doing the laundry or housework if it has to be done for the next meal or day of work to happen. You’ll be so happy never having clutter pile up that you’ll revel in your small daily routines of making it work.

4) You will need to optimize your storage space to get some things in order. Take your closet for example. If you’re serious, you may want to get rid of bedroom furniture. Many folks love only having a bed in their bedroom. It’s a great way to enjoy space. You will still need somewhere to keep the possessions that you need. Get a good closet system that has spaces for little things, like ties, socks, jewelry, and gloves. Use space saving hangers to make your clothing that you keep fit into a smaller space. Velvet hangers are great for this, because they’re slim, strong, and can save you more space than you may have imagined. Once you get your closets done and your home clutter-free, you can relax in the space that you have created.

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) Furniture can be your best friend in a small home. If you can, invest in furniture that has built in storage. It could be that the arm rest opens up to reveal storage for magazines, remotes, and hidden cup holders. Or, you can find coffee tables that open up to reveal storage inside. You can even use a trunk instead of a coffee table to keep books, photo albums, and throw blankets. Ottomans and end tables can also open up to reveal storage.

2) Install shelves all over the place. Installing a shelf over each doorway of your home gives you a convenient place to display photos or memorabilia. But, you can also use that space for storing books. You can store smaller things inside of interesting containers that compliment your décor. You can also use that space for baskets or bins that hide everyday items, like camera chargers, video games, or office supplies.

3) Shelves can also easily be installed in other neglected areas. Up each side of your fireplace, underneath windows, and in unused corners of the room can all be utilized as storage space. Shelves are a great way to add storage space for very little money. You may only need the board and brackets to make the shelf look nice. Paint them black if you want them to blend in with darker surroundings or pop out as a contemporary accent.

4) Make the space look bigger than it is by using sheers instead of curtains, adding light sources around the room, and leaving the space simple. Busy fabrics and decorations can make a space seemed more closed in. However, using them as accents will actually make a space look larger if they are in contrast to lighter colors surrounding them.

5) Utilize your closets to their full potential. Most closets have a design that wastes the space that they have to offer. Use that area up high on all sides of the closet. Use those neglected front corners for shelves and cubbies. Figure out how to most effectively use shelves and bars for making the space work for you. Use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to maximize space on the bar when you’re done.

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.

Many people who rid themselves of excess possessions find that their life is less cluttered, less complicated, more predictable, and more comforting. Minimalists report that it is much easier to organize and the simple life has many rewards.

Simplifying your life can even have financial rewards. As your priorities shift from buying things that you like to only buying things that you need, you’ll notice yourself getting pickier about what you buy. You will not want to clutter up your limited or organized space, so you will only buy things that fit, are of a high enough quality to last, and that you know you’ll love. Buying only quality products may seem more expensive, but the money you save on frivolous spending and replacing junk will more than cover the few investments that you make.

Once you’ve decided to go minimal, it is time to get rid of the excess. Trim the fat, so to speak. Go through different areas of your house and concentrate on one area at a time. Ask yourself as you go how much you use certain items. Is it enough to warrant keeping it forever? Is it worthy of your limited storage space? Can you donate it to charity, friends or family? There are usually problem areas in the home that are actually unnecessary. Declutter your counter spaces, shelves, kitchen drawers, bedside table, and cabinets.

When you’re done, assess how much space you actually have. You may want to set goals for yourself. For example, you may decide to implement the two week rule with your wardrobe. Force yourself to choose your favorite two week wardrobe for each season and toss the rest. Choose two weeks of casual clothes, two weeks of work clothes, and two weeks of dress clothes. Keep fourteen pairs of socks and underwear, a brown belt and a black belt, and so on. If you add new clothing to your wardrobe, you have to get rid of something older that you don’t wear as much.

This may seem like a small amount of clothes, but you may be surprised how much space those two week wardrobes can take up. You can minimalize the space that your clothes take up by using space saving hangers, like slim velvet hangers. These specialty hangers allow you to hang a lot of clothing in a small space, without sacrificing quality like you would with wire or plastic hangers. By saving space with your space saving hangers, you can make room for more storage in your closet. You may decide to get rid of bulky dressers and keep all of your clothes in a closet system that effectively manages the space that you have.

Save space, save time, save money, and reduce stress by minimalizing your home this year.

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) Use the wall space that you have available. Blank wall space can be used to help you get things under control. You can use shelving, TV brackets, mount speakers and more to free up some space.

2) Add shelves up high for things that you don’t need to use all the time. Higher shelves are easy and inexpensive to hang. Display pictures, collections, decorations and other seldom used items up higher where you don’t need to reach them very often.

3) Add shelving down lower for items that are used often. Simple triangle corner shelves take up such little space, but make great places to put books, remote controls, children’s toys, mail baskets and more. You can display your magazines, movies, music or just have a place to put the kids’ art supplies.

4) Utilize an organizer for the foyer or front entryway. You need somewhere to stash your mail, trash, newspaper, cell phones, and keys as soon as you walk in the door. If this is where it goes, this is where it will stay. Don’t let it all make its way to your kitchen counter! Use a small table, preferably with a couple of drawers and cabinets underneath. Mail can go in one drawer, while keys and wallets go in the other. Use a charging caddy for all of your electronic needs. Phones, cameras, MP3s and more can neatly charge by the front door where you can grab them and go. Place a small waste basket or shredder underneath in the cabinet. Here you can stack magazines, store newspaper for recycling, whatever you need.

5) Make a place for the larger items that come into and leave your house every day. For example, coats, shoes, backpacks, brief cases, purses, umbrellas, you name it. No wonder our foyers, living rooms and kitchen counters take the brunt of it! All of the stuff that your family brings in at the end of the day needs to have a convenient place to go. If it’s not easy to use, you won’t use it. So, invest a little in some closet shelving for your coat closet and get it organized. Big hooks for backpacks, small shelves for purses and brief cases, racks for shoes, and containers for extras, like keys or change. Use space saving hangers, or slim line hangers, to create even more space in your coat closet.

Once everything has a place, it will most likely stay in its place. If it doesn’t, cleaning it up won’t be such a daunting task.

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

If you have a big closet or an extremely packed closet, then you may need to schedule quite a few hours or even a day to spend focusing on the problem. Most closets have one thing in common: inadequate storage space.

You probably do have enough storage space, but the arrangement is all wrong. Just like homes, the square footage can be low, but the layout can make all the difference. Think efficiency. You want the things that you use most to be front and center. Accessibility is important when you’re creating usable space.

Make the most of square footage. This is where you should sit down with a pen and paper and start drawing up designs. You don’t have to get fancy, but figure out where your belongings will go before you start.

This can be a lot easier if you categorize your clothing. Hanging shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses in their own sections of the closet can help you quickly get ready in the mornings. Plus, by hanging short items all together, you free up some space below. A lot of times, simply rearranging the order of clothing is all that it takes to start organizing.

There is no hard-fast rule here. If it is easier for you to keep your work clothes in one section, work-out clothes in another, and your casual wear all separated, then by all means, do it that way. Some people like the uniformity of arranging by color.

It may be a good idea to get some other minds involved in your design. Friends or family members may have some creative ideas if you’re running short. You may need to invest a little money to implement your design, but you don’t have to spend a fortune.

Find spaces in your closet that aren’t being used and install shelves, cubbies or extra rails. You’re not stuck with the standard bar and shelf that most closets have. If you started with a completely empty space, what would you do with it? Is there a way to make that happen? Do you need special spaces for certain things like photos, electronics or hobby supplies? Design the closet that fits your belongings.

Save extra space by using space saving hangers, called slimlinehangers. They grip clothing with their velvety finish. They’re super thin, yet really durable. They make your clothing hang in a tiny amount of space. Install hooks for tote bags, purses and robes. Install drawers or use bins for ties, belts and socks. When everything has a place to go, it won’t be crammed in any longer.

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

You probably do this every year. You start out the school year organized and committed to keeping everything in order. But by the summer, you’ve become the pack rat that you dreaded seeing ever again. School work can pile up, end of the year projects come home, the winter clothes come off and it’s off to the pool all summer long. Well, it’s time to get moving again. Don’t buy a single back to school item until you have made a space for everything that will be coming in.

Each child will need a backpack, pencils, crayons, glue, lunchbox, paper and more. Most of these things will end up staying at the school, so really you need to get ready for what will come home. You especially need to be ready for the things that come home that must go back, or things that come home that you want to keep. You may decide to dedicate an area of your entryway or your coat closet to these items.

If you have a coat closet, you may be able to hang coats on one side and install shelves and hooks on the other side. Each child will need a backpack hook. You can also label containers or large folders for each child’s work that you want to keep. When you look through their folders, you can quickly file the keepsakes and trash the rest. Keep a small trash bin at the bottom of the closet for this task. It will keep you from piling up the work on your kitchen counter or coffee table.

Next, you will need to have homework supplies handy. Use a metal bill tray mounted to the wall to keep loose leaf paper, construction paper and composition books. Then place a magnetic pencil holder to the outside with plenty of sharpened pencils and pens for quick and easy use. A hanging basket is a great place to keep crayons, markers, glue, glitter, pencil sharpeners, erasers and sticky notes. Leave notes for your kids on their backpacks that say things like “dentist appointment at 1:00”, “bring snack for the class today” or anything that you need for them to remember. A dry erase calendar used only for school is also a good thing to keep inside the closet door.

If you need to make space in your closet for all of these things, hang your coats on space saving hangers. Clips and cascading hooks can save you a lot of space. When everything is organized and ready to go, you will be too.

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