A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.

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Guest Post - How to Properly Organize a Living Space for Older Adults with Special Needs

A space where people dwell can be so simple. All you need is a few well-functioning elements – a chair, a table, bed, stove, shower, sink and a toilet – and one can easily survive if need be. However, survival is not what life's about. A living space that one considers home is a whole other matter. For an elderly person that has experienced a life-changing disability, this is a matter that can determine whether they will be depressed or content, so the design of such a place needs to be taken seriously. With that in mind, here's how to properly organize a living space for older adults with special needs.

Bed

A space where people dwell can be so simple. All you need is a few well-functioning elements – a chair, a table, bed, stove, shower, sink and a toilet – and one can easily survive if need be. However, survival is not what life's about. A living space that one considers home is a whole other matter. For an elderly person that has experienced a life-changing disability, this is a matter that can determine whether they will be depressed or content, so the design of such a place needs to be taken seriously. With that in mind, here's how to properly organize a living space for older adults with special needs.

A matter of decluttering

A cluttered space is a hazard for disabled elders. You should determine where the senior prefers to spend most of their time and see to it that there are enough drawers and cabinets around to keep the minutia properly stored. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the disabled person – they need to be able to move through the room with the help of a wheelchair or a walker. This means that the arrangement should be economic in such a way to leave enough room between the pieces of furniture for readjustment. De-cluttering simply lowers the risk of injury.

Furniture – less is more

While we are on the topic of injury, stuffing the living space with an arrangement of smaller furniture is begging for a visit to the doctor’s office. Instead, fill up the space with fewer furniture elements and keep them large. Of course, you should ensure that the furniture which is placed in the room does not have any jagged edges.

Natural light makes all the difference

Living room

Due to biological senescence, most elderly adults tend to “retire” into their shadowy dwellings and settle with solitary existence. Suffice to say, this impacts their mood immensely, especially if they are not exposed to enough natural light. Getting enough vitamin D is particularly important for disabled seniors and well-lit rooms can look vibrant without excessive over-design.

If you are looking for inspiration, you should check out Mark Moran Vaucluse aged care facilities, which offer some stellar examples of thoughtfully organized living spaces for seniors – such as layouts that are designed to capture maximum natural light and quaint vistas. Remember – the abundance of natural light is the cornerstone of a well-designed and well-organized living space. In fact, it is a “hack” that does a lot of beautifying for you.

A space for guests?

If an elderly disabled person is in good spirits, they’ll almost certainly yearn to cultivate their social life. It is therefore perfectly reasonable to ask yourself: Should the disabled senior have means to entertain in their own living space? If they live in a community or a communal establishment, it is much easier to answer this question – they can simply rely on several reception areas. However, if it’s a smaller, more tightly arranged living space, like a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago for example, – in a private environment or a smaller aged care facility, the answer should still be no. Day-to-day safety takes a priority.

Storage solutions

A well-organized, large storage space that covers an entire wall in a living space is something that can pretty much solve all the issues. Storage solutions can be divided into several areas based on their function. For example, eight smaller drawers can be reserved for keepsakes and paraphernalia. It is simply smarter to remove them off usable surfaces.

The following eight to twelve drawers can be reserved for books that are of particular interest to the elderly. At least several drawers should always be kept empty, just in case something needs to be stored away quickly. Another upside of this is that the dust doesn’t need to be swiped regularly off stored items, and cleaning other surfaces around the room becomes much brisker.

In the end, it does not really matter if the disabled elder lives at home or in a commercial building. The only thing that is truly important is whether their needs are met and if they feel comfortable enough in the organized surrounding. While modified elements that may assist the disabled person in moving around the place are obligatory, one should do their best to design and arrange the dwelling in such a way that it doesn’t look like a spruced-up medical facility. A few heartfelt details here and there can make all the difference in the world.

Lillian Connors can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of green living/home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter.

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The Teenage Room Dilemma

It’s challenging to organize your house when you have teenagers. Your priorities and theirs are different. You know you have been a good role model, you put your dishes in the dishwasher and empty it when the dishes are clean, your clothes are not lying on your bedroom floor, your bathroom towels are hung on rods or hooks, and your car keys are always in the same place. Why does your teenager not have the same thought process?

Teen

It’s challenging to organize your house when you have teenagers. Your priorities and theirs are different. You know you have been a good role model, you put your dishes in the dishwasher and empty it when the dishes are clean, your clothes are not lying on your bedroom floor, your bathroom towels are hung on rods or hooks, and your car keys are always in the same place. Why does your teenager not have the same thought process?

One of the most frustrating areas for parents is your teenagers bedroom. Usually you shut the door and do not look inside. At the holiday time you get a call that your relatives are coming for a visit. Oh no! Maybe you need your teenagers room for the bed, or maybe you just want it to look put together during the visit. Either way here are a few tips which may help you and your teen organize their living space.

Dirty clothes

Make sure you have a laundry hamper and trash can in the room. The laundry hamper should have a large opening without a top to encourage your teenager to toss their dirty clothes in it. They make hampers in many colors to match the room. Here is an example:


Clothes on the floor

Goodbye wire and plastic hangers. Replace them with Huggable hangers. Huggable hangers have a velvety finish so clothes do not slide off. This will keep their clothes hanging and not on the bottom of the closet floor.

Command Hook

Wet towels

Hooks are your friend. When kids share a bathroom there is never enough room for wet towels. Try putting a hook behind their bedroom door. Encourage your teenager to hang wet towels on the hooks to dry. Hooks are also great to hang handbags, jewelry, caps, belts, etc…

Papers/Keepsakes

Clear plastic under bed storage bins are great for papers and keepsakes. If your student knows they have a place to put their papers they will not leave them in piles all over the floor. At the end of every school year, they can review and discard what is no longer necessary. Papers that are important to keep can be kept in a remote location to free up the bin for the new school year.

Most important, as hard as it can be try to be patient. Explain your expectations without getting upset. You may suggest putting on music and a timer for 20 minutes once a week.

Music makes everything more fun, even if it is not music you like listening too! If your teenager knows that once the timer goes off they are done, it may make the clean-up easier.

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Guest Post - How to Organize Your Bathroom

Morning person or not, having a well-organized bathroom can help ease any stress you’re experiencing. You can start your day right and get to work on time without having to rush out of the door every morning.

No matter how small, a bathroom is where most of us unwind after a long day’s work. Having a clutter-free space makes life so much easier. After an exhausting day at work, you can light some candles, open a bottle of wine, and run a nice hot bath.

Who wouldn’t want a calming space all to themselves?

If you need a little help with organizing your bathroom, you can follow these tips, and create your stress-free sanctuary.

Bathroom

Morning person or not, having a well-organized bathroom can help ease any stress you’re experiencing. You can start your day right and get to work on time without having to rush out of the door every morning.

No matter how small, a bathroom is where most of us unwind after a long day’s work. Having a clutter-free space makes life so much easier. After an exhausting day at work, you can light some candles, open a bottle of wine, and run a nice hot bath.

Who wouldn’t want a calming space all to themselves?

If you need a little help with organizing your bathroom, you can follow these tips, and create your stress-free sanctuary.

Quick Tips for Organizing Your Bathroom

The bathroom is often the smallest room in the house. Compared to much larger rooms, it will be easier to organize. And when you’ve done so, it will be easier for you to clean.

Here’s how you can start organizing your bathroom:

Declutter: Take a good look at your bathroom. Find items that you don’t actually want or use, and dump them in the bin. The makeup products you’ve never opened and perfumes you never liked, you can give them all to charity.

Clear out the counter: Remove all unnecessary items from the counters. You can leave a few products that you actually use and bundle them together. Whether you use a tray or a wicker basket, your items should only take up a third of the space in your counter. This makes it easier for you when you’re getting ready.

Add organizers for extra storage space: Hang extra shelves on the walls. Add a few cabinets. You can gain so much storage space by using these organizers. These items can make your bathroom clutter-free and stylish at the same time.

Add a laundry bin: Place a laundry bin for your wet and dirty towels. This way, you won’t have to worry about towels on your bathroom floor. Also, it will make your laundry routine so much easier and quicker.

Use clear acrylic containers: You can easily find what you’re looking for when you store items in clear containers. The great thing about its design is that it’s versatile. No matter what theme you have going on, these will surely blend right in.

Label your drawers: Make it even easier for your family to find the items they need by adding labels on your drawers. Everyone’s morning routines can run smoothly with these labels in place. More importantly, labels make it easier for the family to maintain a well-organized space.

7 Bathroom Organizers

Having enough storage space is important for any bathroom. From modern ladder shelves to rolled-up towel racks, these are the most functional and fashionable ways to keep your bathroom organized.

Over-the-Toilet Shelves

Don’t have enough space for traditional cabinetry? No worries. You can add modern ladder shelves over the toilet to make the most out of the space you have. Depending on your shelf, you might be able to place a few rolls of toilet paper, towels, or a plant or two.

Corner Shelves

Whatever layout your bathroom has, corner shelves can fit perfectly in your space. You can store extra rolls of toilet paper on these shelves, and even a few plants and candles.

Cost: $27.99, wayfair.com

Rolled-Up Towel Racks

Make your bathroom clutter-free by adding rolled-up towel racks. Whenever you decide to switch up your décor, you can always transfer this to your kitchen. Your wine bottles can fit perfectly in the towel holders!

Functional Wall Décor

Consider getting a functional wall décor if your bathroom has enough space for it. It can hold your candles, bottles, toilet paper rolls, and potted plants, all while looking stylish.

Cost: $29.40, etsy.com

Drawer Dividers

Use drawer dividers to keep all your things in place and prevent them from moving around. Your morning routine can run smoother, and you can make cleaning a whole lot easier.

Cost: $16.99, ikea.com

Mason Jar Units

If there isn’t enough space in your drawers for your makeup brushes or your cotton balls, store them in mason jars. You can do a DIY project, or purchase one from Amazon.

Wicker Baskets

Do you have jute baskets that don’t fit in any of your cabinets? Well, place them on your walls! You can hang two baskets right above your toilet for easier access to those toilet paper rolls.

Cost: $9.99, ikea.com

How to Organize the Shower and Bathtub

Bathtub

Showers and bathtubs aren’t always the easiest areas to organize, especially if you live in an old house that’s yet to be modernized. That’s because a lot of these tubs and shower spaces weren’t built with storage in mind.

As mentioned, you can always use organizers to add extra storage space. You can use corner shelves to keep essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, and soap within reach.

How to Organize the Sink and Countertops

To keep the counter organized, you can place items closest to where they are used. For instance, hand soap should be next to the sink for easier access. You can place your items in a tray to keep everything neat. If you need more space, you can have mason jar units on your walls.

Author Bio: Nicole Andrews is the marketing manager for euromarble.com in Sydney, Australia. With a background in interior design, she enjoys writing about the latest industry trends. In her spare time, she walks her dog Rusco down at Bondi Beach.

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Guest Post - 5 Practical Tips for a Well Organized and Clutter-Free Garage

There is something irresistible about pushing that key fob button and watching the garage door slowly roll up as you pull your car inside – if it can fit among all that clutter! How about a garage where everything is in place, items easy to locate, every corner well-lit, and the whole space appealing to look and walk into? Back to the reality check, the garage is an area that is consistently an issue in every home. A combination of a parking spot and general storage, with items accumulating haphazardly often pushing the car out on the driveway. Don’t wait until you retire to take care of it. Using these practical tips, you can easily declutter your garage, and at the same time, increase its storage capability.

garage door

There is something irresistible about pushing that key fob button and watching the garage door slowly roll up as you pull your car inside – if it can fit among all that clutter! How about a garage where everything is in place, items easy to locate, every corner well-lit, and the whole space appealing to look and walk into? Back to the reality check, the garage is an area that is consistently an issue in every home. A combination of a parking spot and general storage, with items accumulating haphazardly often pushing the car out on the driveway. Don’t wait until you retire to take care of it. Using these practical tips, you can easily declutter your garage, and at the same time, increase its storage capability.

Add some shelving

DIY

If you’re keen on DIY projects, get some L-shaped brackets and a piece of lumber, which is all you need for one shelving unit. If you want to get creative, you can create several levels of shelves stacked on top of each other. On the other hand, if carpentry isn’t the sharpest skill in your trade-box, there are plenty of pre-built shelving ideas in home improvement stores. Steel storage racks are easy to assemble, relatively affordable, and capable of holding a ton of weight. If you don’t like their gray powder coat finish, you can paint them any color you like. They also work hand-in-hand with the next solution – plastic bins.

Go for plastic bins

When it comes to de-cluttering virtually any space, plastic storage bins are manna from heaven, as every local home improvement store is bound to have a wide selection of them. True, cardboards boxes cost less money, but they aren’t nearly as sturdy or practical. Fill them, label them and stack them on their shelves, or even one upon another, as they are built to be stacked. Their airtight rubber seal keeps the moisture out, which makes them perfect for storing your family heirlooms, Christmas decorations, and other fragile items. Even if you don’t label them, clear bins let you check the contents at glance, so you can make self-contained, ready-to-go kits like camping cooking gear, plumbing tools, etc.

Get more light in

A series of strip lights fit perfectly over your workbenches, even inside tool cupboards, with fridge-like door activation. A single canopy light on the inside above the garage door works well if you like to park in reverse. Keep in mind that garages are tricky places to rewire, since often a great deal of utility pipes runs through the walls. The recent home improvement boom and have prompted even countries like Australia, which have traditionally had very stringent electrical safety regulations, to update their standards. That’s why most homeowners over there are more likely to leave their DIY enthusiasm aside, and hire a good Sydney electrician, whether they need a new lighting scheme or extra outlets installed.

Exploit vertical space

Your garage walls and ceiling provide valuable square footage as well, making them perfect for hard-to-store items like rakes, bikes, and other gardening equipment. Add some wall hooks and racks and de-clutter the floor and corners. If your garage has a high ceiling, you can even consider installing a ceiling storage lift – perfect for bulky items like bikes, kayaks, surfboards, spare tires, roof boxes, etc. The key is to make everything as accessible as possible – in other words, you don’t have to move three items to reach the fourth.

Fill the cabinets

tools

Sleek and sturdy metal storage cabinets are a fail safe way to declutter and organize almost any garage. While giving tons of vertical and horizontal storage, cabinets protect your items from damage in ways that other containers can’t. Their construction makes them resistant to moisture and rodents, and makes them easy to keep clean. Since they go up on the walls, you have a plenty of room below for floor storage, or pegboards. Invented in the 1800s, these perforated plywood sheets are synonymous with tools that see a lot of use around the house such as screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, hand saws, and everything else that isn’t worth storing away.

However, before you move forward with any purchases or DIY projects, consider your current options and habits to see what works for you. What makes sense to one family, may not work for another. On the other hand, getting your garage in line might even inspire you to get more decluttering done around the house, or get on with those projects that have been lingering around.

About the author: Mike Johnston is a home improvement blogger and DIY enthusiast from Sydney. He is a regular writer at Smooth Decorator and contributor on several interior design, lifestyle, real estate and eco-friendly blogs. Mike’s goal is to create and share meaningful content that helps and inspires people.

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