I’m taking a sabbatical and have lined up a few posts ahead of time. I’ll also be re-sharing some of my fave OTR articles and introducing you to new guest authors as well as other interesting info while I’m away. Here’s a bit of advice from OTR friend, Naomi Seldin, on extreme downsizing.

Moving can be stressful regardless of the circumstances, but moving to a much smaller place can be particularly challenging.

I’m taking a sabbatical and have lined up a few posts ahead of time. I’ll also be re-sharing some of my fave OTR articles and introducing you to new guest authors, like today’s blogger, Frank Anderson. He shares some tips on taming the clutter while in school.

Of the many things the collegiate experience is known for, organization and clutter free living don’t rank high on (or even make) the list. Considering that the dorm room normally serves as a young adults first “home away from home,” and that they often share this tiny space with a complete stranger – keeping it organized can be a challenge right from the beginning.

However, it is possible – and even necessary to be organized. After all, living among environmental chaos makes it doubly more difficult to focus on academic studies.

The biggest challenge to dorm room organization is the fact that so many belongings are packed into such a tight space. This is just one reason it is essential that students prepare to get creative and utilize every inch of the dorm room.

1. Options for Small Spaces

Consider using bed risers to maximize storage space underneath the beds. Then, you can use brightly colored or themed totes and boxes to store clothing, memorabilia, or even music collections and photo albums. Bunk beds are another way to increase floor space.

Over the door shoe organizers hung on the backs of doors and on the walls of the dorm (using adhesives) can be used for holding anything from shoes and art supplies to personal hygiene items and clothing. You can also get creative and place photos in the spaces to display your dorm room savvy and design sense.

2. Organize Your Work Area

The desk/study area is another multi-functional space that can easily be cluttered. Using decorative boxes to hold every day items like paper and pens, and placing all paperwork in clearly labeled binders for future use ensures you wont ever lose a study guide! Plus, when the course is over, you can store the completed work and information for easy access should you need it for other classes down the road.

Also, come up with a filing system that utilizes tote boxes with lids, so you won’t be leaving important papers and books lying around when not in use. It is vitally important that you also keep a calendar handy, and in quick view so you will always be prepared. While most phones come with calendar programs, research has shown that highly visible calendars serve as better visual reminders.

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3. Sharing Space With Your Roommate

Since you are sharing your space with a roommate, think about color-coding in the dorm room so the two of you won’t be constantly figuring out what belongs to whom. For instance, having a small plastic tote box, big enough to fit flip-flops and all of your other showering necessities can take the chaos out of dorm shower times.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of staying organized, is making sure that you don’t over estimate the space you have. Consult with your roommate before college begins to avoid bringing duplicate items that take up excess space, such as microwaves.

And, when you pack for college – rather than bring everything in your closet and drawers, pack for the season. Chances are you will be coming home during the year, and can trade out seasonal wardrobes then, making it much easier to keep your dorm organized. When it comes to dorm room clutter, bringing less equates to much, much more space.

4. Create a Routine

Last but not least, commit to a weekly sprucing up routine. Messes and clutter are easier to deal with in small doses. If you allow the dorm room clutter to get out of hand, it can be even harder to organize.

About The Author

Frank Anderson is a blogger and writer for college and university topics. He also helps schools with their email exchange hosting systems.

Short on space? Today’s guest author thinks self storage might work for you.

Having too much stuff can be a headache, especially when you don’t have enough room in your living space. The greatest and easiest way to reduce your clutter is by getting a cheap self storage. Aside from this, you also have the following options:

1. Get rid of your stuff through antique shops, thrift stores, and Goodwill.
2. Make an extra effort to re-organize your place.

Insufficient space is a problem among the people in the United States. 10% of U.S. households at the moment rent at least one storage unit. The financial repercussions can be grave: several storage renters wind up paying far more for the space than their stuff is worth. In order to reduce the costs of self-storage, you need to do a massive amount of research beforehand to discover the best long-term deal for you.

• First find out what you need. Self-storage services will often charge higher fees while offering additional benefits. You need to be adamant and check to see if you’re getting a deal. Also, each self-storage company offer units that have different sizes, amenities, and locations.

To choose what storage fees you are comfortable with, it is essential to formulate a list of what you want from your storage space. Look at the location, climate control, and size to make your choice.

• Make a decision on how much space you will need. If you don’t know how much you need, you won’t be able to do a proper cost comparison. One company might offer great rates on really large units, but charge more than the local competition on a smaller unit that fits your storage needs better. As a general rule, storage prices will be lower for smaller units.

Once you’ve determined how much space you’ll need, take a second look at your possessions and see if there is anything you can give away or sell.

• Look for the best deal. Self-storage is a very low-innovation business, and has been slow to adopt to the digital world, so there’s no price transparency. Fortunately, aggregators such as SelfStorage.com and SpareFoot can tie into storage facility management software. They can also provide information on services and pricing at each location.

You can use these sites to look for your amenities such as a free moving truck rental, drive-up units, climate control, 24-hour access, and strong security. You can then sort by price to discover the cheapest self-storage unit with those features.

• Estimate the actual savings of short-term promotions. A lot of storage companies will offer a discounted rate for 3-6 months, a discounted rate for a contract for a year or more of storage, or a free or $1 first month. Think about how long you plan to rent out the unit to come to a decision on which promotions will save you the most money in the long run.

While self-storage ought to be a last option for organizing your home, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to go about the search. Remember that just about all storage customers don’t intend to keep their storage unit for as long as they do. Perform a thorough research beforehand to make sure you don’t wind up paying more than your stuff is worth.

About the Author

Margot McClelland is a guest post writer on the subjects of homes and lifestyles.

Connect With Margot: Web 

Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all).  A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

I hate the end of summer. No more BBQ’s. It looks like midnight when it’s only 5:00 pm. And, it’s frigid. Bleh. Every year, I count the days until summer rolls back ’round again.

I’ve found something that will make me look forward to my favorite season – the Hot-Pot BBQ - a planter that turns into a grill. What a super combo! You can grow your own herbs and then use them on the grill. It’s logical. And, it makes me pine for the warmer temps even more.

A few more pluses: It looks good. It’s great for small spaces. And, it’s relatively inexpensive ($124). What do you think? Thumbs up or down?

Sources:

Inhabitat

Black + Blum

Check Out These Other Transformers

Ever had to make room for a new roommate? Sarah Heckle (you might know her as Sarah Beckman) knows all about what it takes to merge households.

Very recently, my husband and I got married and moved in with each other — it’s been the best time of my life!

It just so happened my lease was up right around the time of the wedding, but his lasts until next spring, so I moved into his apartment. Chris has your typical, non-married guy’s space: small, unorganized, minimal decorations, maybe not the cleanest.

If I had the apartment to myself, all my belongings would fill the space up. My clothes could easily take up the entire bedroom closet, and my blankets, bedding, and towels could fill up the entire linen space. Needless to say, we had to do some serious downsizing and small-space organizing to make it work.

These days, there are a lot of people downsizing the space they live in. Sometimes financial situations, transition stages, or unforeseeable events force us to live in a spacer that’s smaller than ideal, but there are some space-saving tips to help you get through.

1. Narrow your items down to what you need. In general, most of us have way too much stuff. More stuff than we need. I’m guilty of this, but I’m trying to take notes from my parents who are the most organized people I know. They have a beautiful house — and I think part of its charm is that they don’t have it filled to every corner with stuff.

They buy things they need and not much more than that. Things that they don’t use, they donate to charity. If you need help whittling down your possessions, read my post on decluttering a small bedroom — these tips can be applied to any room of the house.

2. Find the right place for everything. You’d be surprised how much you can fit into a small place if you’re strategic with where you store things. You should store items in the room where they’re going to be used. So, if you have a “junk drawer” in your kitchen with random objects from around the house, find a better place for these items – this clears space for kitchen items.

3. Get clever with space. When you’re low on space, think vertically. Mount a peg board on a utility room wall to hang miscellaneous items. Install hooks on an entryway wall to create a coat rack that takes up no floor space. Another great vertical space to take advantage of is the back of doors. My husband and I use a back-of-door shoe holder from my college years as a catch-all in our utility room.

4. Look underneath. Pieces of furniture that have enough clearance for a thin storage bin should be taken advantage of. We have several under-the-bed storage containers that are full of off-season clothes. You might as well take advantage of the floor space furniture provides.

I’m looking at our time living in a small apartment with optimism: We have everything we need in life, and it’ll be a good story for our future children!

About the Author

Sarah Heckle is a writer and editor at Affordable Scarves where she develops content on celebrity style. As a lover of fashion, she must keep her closet organized at all times!

Connect with Sarah: Web |  Twitter | Tumblr

Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

The Mealbox is one super clever transformer. It will come in handy when you need extra seating on a nice spring or summer day. And, because it starts out as a puzzle in a box, it’s easy to store. If you have a small space and big eating plans, Mealbox is for you.

The Box

The Puzzle Inside the Box

The Puzzle Assembled = 1 Table + 6 Seats

Sources:

Web Urbanist

Igland Design

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Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

Sofas that turn into beds is nothing new, but when they turn into two beds at the same time, that deserves a closer look. The Doc sofa is perfect for when you’re tight on space and seems quite easy to assemble (check out the video below). That’s always a plus…and, you can also choose from several finishes and fabrics.

Sofa…

…transforming into…

…two separate beds…

How to assemble the Doc sofa

Sources:

Trendhunter

Bonbon

Check Out These Other Transformers

Have a small bedroom? Check out these tips from Sarah Beckman on how to make your small space work for you.

Your bedroom should be a peaceful place where your mind and body can relax and rejuvenate. Unfortunately, for many, the bedroom area becomes a cluttered storage space for clothes, accessories, knick knacks — and the rest of the family’s stuff. If you have a small bedroom and closet, clutter becomes 10 times worse. For the sake of cleanliness, aesthetics, and your health, you should declutter, clean, and organize your bedroom. Here’s how in 5 easy steps.

1. Overhaul – The first step to organizing your bedroom is throwing away excess stuff. Get a garbage bag and begin by throwing away anything that is trash. You’ll be surprised how much garbage accumulates in a place where it doesn’t belong. Throw away anything that is of no use to you — and is of no use to anyone else. Create a “donate” pile for items you can’t use, but someone else might need.

2. Reassign – Grab some plastic tubs and label them with different areas of the house: kitchen, bathroom, garage, laundry, kids’ bedrooms, etc. Anything that you want to keep, but does not belong in the bedroom, add to its respective tub. You will make the most of your possessions if they are located in the correct room.

3. Sort through your clothes – People (especially the ladies!) have trouble parting with clothes. Use these tips to declutter and take advantage of your closet space:

• Get rid of any items of clothing you haven’t worn in the past year — no exceptions. Donate wearable clothes to charity, and throw away the rest.

• Get rid of any clothes with holes, tears, rips, missing buttons, stains, etc. You’re better than wearing damaged clothes.

• Get rid of clothes that don’t fit. Too small or big, there’s no use holding onto ill-fitting clothes. Also, don’t keep small clothes as a motivator to lose weight — it’s added clutter and a negative reminder.

• All clothes that remain need to be folded in a drawer, hanging in the closet, or in the laundry basket.

• Out-of-season clothes should be properly stored in under-the-bed tubs or sealed bags. Only store them once they’re clean.

4. Sort through your knick knacks – A bedroom often becomes cluttered with decorations, candles, photos, etc. — items that have no obvious place in the house. Keep bedroom decorations minimal. Put photos in an album, and start a memory box for all those treasures that you want to keep, but don’t want displayed. Throw away or donate anything with no sentimental value to you — or that you forget you own.

5. Tame those handbags and shoes – Use the same clothes standards with your handbags and shoes. Keep quality purses in dust bags in an under-the-bed tub, or display them on a hall tree. Get an over-the-door shoe organizer to take advantage of vertical space. You will enjoy your bedroom so much more once you tackle the clutter. It will become a place where you can truly relax.

About the Author

Sarah Beckman is a writer and editor at Affordable Scarves where she develops content on celebrity style. As a lover of fashion, she must keep her closet organized at all times!

Connect with Sarah: Web |  Twitter | Tumblr

Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

Most people don’t have a refrigerator in their living room…well, most people I know don’t. It sounds like a cool idea (pun intended…LOL) to have a fridge so close by. Though it might look a little weird, it would be efficient, right? No need to keep making the long, arduous walk to the kitchen to fetch something for you and your guests. ;) Another plus: this would be perfect for small spaces.

Ok, so I jest a bit, but there is a way for you get a fridge in your living room and have it look pretty neat. It’s called a SmarSofa and it was first unveiled at IFA 2010, a huge consumer electronic show. Have a look…

Here’s what you get with the SmarSofa: refrigerator, remote-controlled cooling platter (height is adjustable), and sofa. You can also have it customized to suit your needs. Pink not your color? No worries. Choose the textile that you love and change the seating arrangement, if you’d like.

Here’s the stand-alone version of the SmarTable. What do you think?

Sources:

Gizmag

Gorenje

Check Out These Other Transformers

Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

Over the weekend, I noticed a growing trend as I looked around. Lots of pregnant women. Everywhere. I guess there’s love in the air, or at one point it was. All these mommies-to-be might well be interested in today’s featured transformer: The Studio Crib by Nurseryworks.

This piece of furniture can help every new parent furnish their baby’s room with an eye to the future. It starts out as a crib with an attached changing table (changing pad included), a great option when you’re limited on space since you get the function of two things in one unit.

You also get storage cabinets under the changing table. Once the table transforms into a desk, then toys and other supplies can be stored there.

You can also purchase a conversion kit to turn that crib into a daybed.

There are a couple possible drawbacks the Studio Crib, one being the price tag – $2100. It’s a chunk of money to lay out, but it’s a piece of furniture that will live with you for a while so it might be worth it to you.

The other is the shape. It has hard lines and is not “pretty,” particularly for a girl’s room.  If you’re looking for cute, check out this bassinet that turns into a rocking chair…or is it the other way around?  It provides a different function, but has quite a bit of style, don’t you think?

Sources:

Inhabitots.com

Goodkin

Check Out These Other Transformers