Garage Storage
February 2, 2013
When you have a garage or workshop that is a blank canvas or one that is full of piles of stuff but doesn’t have any storage, it’s time to invest in a storage system. Coming in a variety of designs and configurations, it’s easy to find a storage system that works for your space.
If you’re looking to start with the basics the Granite Sandusky 3-in-1 Garage Storage System comes with three key storage pieces to get you going. Coming with a lower cabinet topped off with a shelf, a large cabinet and a wall mounted cabinet, this set has three kinds of storage so there is room for everything from sporting equipment to tools. With a heavy duty design, these cabinets can stand up to whatever you decide to throw at them.
Add even more storage and counter space with the Ulti-MATE Garage PRO 5-piece Cabinets. With an additional floor cabinet you gain even more drawer and shelf space. Sleek hardware adds some style to any workspace.
The Flow Wall Garage Cabinet Set by Red Star Traders combines wall mounted cabinets with an entire pegboard wall for easy to customize storage. Ample countertop space make it easy to set up shop. Use the individual hooks to create easy to access, custom storage.
Made of durable steel the Coleman 6 Piece Cabinet System offers ample organization space with one large cabinet, three smaller cabinets and an entire cabinet of drawers. Filling an entire wall, this garage storage system adds a professional look to any workspace.
Whether you have an empty garage crying out for storage or a messy toolshed that could really use some organizing, adding a storage system is an efficient way to free up space and create a convenient place to work on projects.
Folding Shelves for Record Storage
January 29, 2013
I am a total music geek; I cannot get enough new bands or artists and am constantly purchasing new music to discover. My favorite format for listening to music is hands-down a vinyl record played on an old-school record player. The sounds are so warm yet crisp, making you feel as if you are in the recording room with the band as they are playing.
Unfortunately, I am not made of money (and what money I do have goes to records!) so I live in a pretty cramped one bedroom apartment. The biggest downside for records (and partially the reason for their fade from prominence for a few years) is that they are big, bulky, hard to store and you cannot listen to them in the car or on the go. This issue is magnified by my small home, to the point which I had cardboard box upon cardboard box full of records and stack up on each other.
One of the best ways to create an organized space for storing your records is using a folding shelf. What is great about this type of shelf is that not only does it provide exceptional and secure storage for your vinyl; it also can be folded down for easy transport. This makes it perfect for the transient record-collectors among us.
I would recommend using a soft wood shelf to store your records over a sturdier metal shelf, for a variety of reasons. First off, one thing every record collector has to understand is the damaging effects extreme temperatures can have on vinyl – metal has this annoying tendency to absorb the extreme heat or cold, transferring that to your records and potentially damaging them. The other reason is that metal can be very sharp or have very hard angles, which can damage the gatefold of your records.
By using a wood shelf to store my records I have been able to secure a lot more space in my living room and get my records organized so it is easy to find them right away.
You can also store your records in this specifically designed Record Storage Crate, and you can display your favorite album on the wall with this Vinyl Record Frame.
How to Organize Your Home Office – Paper Trays
January 18, 2013
What better way to start out the New Year than with an organized home office! This will be the first of several blogs designed to help you organize your home office. There are certain key items that every productive office needs. You may have heard the saying, “a place for everything, and everything in its place”. This is a fundamental organizing concept. Take a look around your office; specifically look at your piles. If you know right where something belongs, it is easy to return it to that spot.
Usually the items that pile up do so because they don’t have a home. Don’t leave any of your papers in your office “homeless” and piling up. Paper Trays are the first tool to help organize your office. Fortunately, OrganizeIt.com has a variety of paper trays to choose from, whether you prefer plastic, metal mesh orbamboo construction. There is no set blueprint for what an office should look like – the key is having homes for things. Since most offices have paper coming in and out, and some files at a minimum (even if they have gone paperless), here is what I recommend to get you started with paper trays:
- Inbox– It is imperative that you have a physical inbox in your office where you can put new items. This could be mail, meeting notes, papers from school, etc. You can’t always process them immediately, so you need to have a home for them until you can. When you do have a few minutes, you will know right where to go. You need to dedicate time to check this tray at least once each day.
- Outbox – Dedicate a paper tray as your outbox. This gives you a spot for the items that are ready to leave your office (e.g. out-going mail, notes for school, etc.)
- ‘To File’ Tray – This tray provides a spot for the papers or files that need to be filed. They might come from your inbox, or they could be papers or files that had been pulled and need to be re-filed. Consider stacking three trays for your inbox, outbox and ‘To File’ trays to save space on your desktop.
In addition to the trays mentioned above, other uses for paper trays include: papers to scan, papers to shred, or printer paper (colored, white, 3-hole punched, letterhead). You will be amazed at what a difference these little paper trays can make.
Donna Lindley is a Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.