Posts Tagged ‘basement’

Closet storage can be a nightmare if it is disorganized. Nothing is worse than running out the door and being unable to find your gloves or umbrella. Worse yet is having a fear of even opening the closet and causing a time wasting avalanche. Your life is much easy when you know where your belongings are and they are easy to access. Also your house is easier to clean up when you have a special place for everything. Carefully thought out closet storage systems can be a happy addition to your house.

Even your junk closet needs a bit of organization. There are cheap and easy ways to organize a closet. One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways is to buy some easy to assemble plastic stacking shelves and some transparent plastic bins. Make sure the bins are 2 inches less in height than the height space of the shelves otherwise it will be a sticky fit. Put a 3×5 sticker on the end of each bin and make note of the contents.

The closet storage system described above can be made even cheaper with a little ingenuity. Instead of buying plastic stacking shelves look around your basement or neighborhood for bricks and pieces of 4 foot board. Wash whatever you find thoroughly and carefully. Visit your local wine store and ask for some boxes. Any type of box will do but I find liquor boxes or wine boxes to be the sturdiest and they are easy to find. Write down the contents of each bin on a piece of paper and tape the list to the end of the bin.

Another very inexpensive way to organize your cupboards or closets is to install rows of hooks at eye level around the perimeter of the closet. I was very surprised when I did an inventory of my closets to find that many items came ready to be hung up. You can also use the hooks to hang cloth or netted bags that can be used to store an assortment of light weighted things.

Sometimes the cheapest closet organizer solution is not to buy more organizers, but simply to rethink the way you are organizing your closets, so that you gain utility and space just through well thought out systems. Let me explain what I’m getting at: it’s easier to keep stuff organized if it’s all related. As well, it’s easier to keep things organized if you keep your often used and seldom used items in different spots. For example, keep all of this seasons clothes all in one spot. Move your off season clothes in with the Christmas decorations closet. And if you just keep moving things between closets without ever using them, consider throwing them out.

Decent closet storage ideas can be very inexpensive. You can start with some cheaper ideas and then maybe add some pricey organizational tools when you have more money. There really are some free ways to organize your closets. With some ingenuity, you can come up with a few cheap closet storage ideas.

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We all have one. It has either gone to the kids, the man, or the boxes of useless things packed and moved several times. Your basement could very well be the most under utilized space in your home. It is either a very dreary, retro space that makes you cringe when you enter, or it is concrete and studs; neither are very appealing, so why not make your move? Why not turn it into the space your house has been missing? You don’t know how? Well, it’s as easy as hiring the right builder.

One of the major benefits of a basement remodel, as opposed to a kitchen or bath remodel is that it will not interfere with the bulk of your household activities. Because of this, it makes the remodel a fairly smooth job that will add thousands to your home. Hiring someone you trust will make the experience even better.

Here is a list of the things to consider when working with your professional:

R-Value and waterproofing – Basements have moisture. A professional builder can get the appropriate sealant you need and also maximize efficiency of your insulation.

Heat – Many basements are after thoughts, not initially hooked up in the house’s heating structure. Hooking up duct work and installing additional sources of heat may be necessary.

Humidity – Concrete basements, by their very nature, are humid entities. Concrete draws in moisture so installing a dehumidifying system or in floor heat may help control these issues.

Floor plan – Today’s most popular layouts include bright open spaces with few hallways. This is where a builder shines. Being able to detect the essential (load bearing) walls from the non-essential, he will be able to open up your floor plan making it inviting. Room re-purposing is also possible with the addition of egress windows.

Lighting – Let’s face it, people hate basements because they are dark. Adding a lighting plan that focuses on efficiency and warmth will not only save you money, but add to your home.

A basement transformation is one of the best investments you can make. Your family will benefit, as will your home’s value. By finding an experienced professional you will get the basement of your dreams.

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