Organization Basics: Shelves

May 1, 2011


Organization Basics: Shelves
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    No matter the size of your home or the decluttering challenge, there’s a shelving solution to the rescue. Big or small, standing or mounted, shelves come in lots of varieties and can solve most any storage dilemma. Explore your options, then determine the one that’s just right for you.

Divide a Room: If you’re dealing with a too-big space, try establishing a few separate areas with your furniture arrangement, and more specifically, your shelves. Opt for a large stand-alone bookshelf and use it as a divider. We like gridded designs that let the eye travel through the room to maintain an airy, open feel.

Tip: Your bookcase doesn’t have to be big and tall. A long, skinny bookcase can be turned on its side to create a horizontal divider. At 3 to 4 feet high, it’s perfect for showcasing a few knick-knacks, a stack of books and a lamp on top.

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floating shelvesCreate More Space: Free up space by utilizing the walls above your high-traffic surfaces. Try mounting a single shelf over your kitchen sink to hold dishwashing liquid, sponges and rubber gloves. Hang a trio of floating shelves over the table in your entryway where you can place items that tend to clutter up the hallway, like school books, mail and keys.

Tip: For a truly “floating” effect, try painting your shelves the same color as your wall.

Hide the Clutter: Tired of stacking family members’ shoes, books, odds and ends on the stairs? Try creating a shelving system below your staircase—it’s a prime piece of storage real estate that’s often forgotten! Find a small bookcase that fits the space, or install a few inexpensive shelves.

Tip: Have an old bookcase that could use a facelift? Give it a makeover with colorful paint and pretty paper.

Get Decorative: When you use your imagination, most anything can be a shelf.

Tip: Measure the inside of an old dining room hutch, then take the measurements to your local hardware store. Purchase sliding shelves and install them inside the hutch to create a unique, easy-glance storage option for purses and shoes.



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