Category Archives: Organization

Hidden Storage Ideas for Your Home

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Whether you are looking to hide expensive belongings or just clean up your environment, hidden storage compartments are great to incorporate into your home furniture. Plus, there are hundreds of hidden storage furniture options available today. So do not keep your valuables out in the open any longer, here are five great ways to hide your valuables in your home:

Mirrors and Pictures

Mirrors and pictures are sleek, low profile storage options to use. You can invest in mirrors and pictures that open with storage behind them. You can even go a step further and put a safe in the wall with a picture over it. Hidden cabinets installed behind the mirrors is a way to keep a cleaner bathroom as well to store your daily hygiene care.

Coffee Table

There are so many clever storage coffee table ideas to put into your home. The key to proper hidden storage is hiding your stuff in plain sight! A coffee table with secret compartments not easily seen is excellent for tucking away valuables or even money. Smart designs can make drawers only open while clicking hidden buttons. Find the design that best suits what you are trying to conceal.

Concealed Locker Columns

A modernized trick can be investing in a false support column with hidden storage. There are many different interpretations of this clever design. You can do it during the construction of your home or add a false column later. These hidden wall compartments may look ordinary to the untrained eye but are perfect for hidden your loved belongings.

Floating Shelf

A floating shelf with hidden storage is a great way to protect smaller belongings. This minimalist design can also be used to tuck away unwanted cords or cover outlets. Investing in floating shelves is a great trick to hide away a plethora of small trinkets and gadgets without being noticed by everyone.

Headboard

You may want to keep your valuables near you while you sleep. Having a hidden storage headboard is perfect for helping to hide valuable items. This system will allow you to sleep with ease, knowing you have your important items nearby. Plus, headboard hidden storage can be a fun, easy do-it-yourself project or something you purchase for the perfect design.

Hidden storage compartments are great to help you hide all your valuables. Integrating these tricks into your home is a great way to also free up clutter. So, protect your belongings today by investing in hidden storage compartments.

Kitchen Sink Organization

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The kitchen is the heart of the home; therefore, creating your dream kitchen can express your style and design. From mesmerizing backsplashes to intricately designed appliances, your kitchen can quickly become the most stunning part of your home. However, nothing takes away from this dream like clutter, and one spot reigns notorious overall in this category: the sink. Having a messy sink is easy. We usually eat three times a day and sometimes feed more than one person during a meal. Hence why this area can quickly become an eyesore if not taken care of correctly. However, some simple kitchen sink organization skills can help have your sink looking clean and less cluttered. We break down the three ways to organize your sink and keep it clean and crisp all year. Let’s take a look!

The Essentials

Your kitchen sink most likely has some critical components which you use daily when washing your dishes. These elements make the cut for what can stay in view. For instance, you may have a soap dispenser, maybe a plug for the sink, and perhaps a drying towel, and even a scrub brush. If you can tuck any of these away in your false drawers, take advantage of the space. If not, have a clean, organized set up of where these items belong.

Drying Area

The next key spot is your drying rack. If you have a dishwasher, you do not need to worry about this. However, if you do not have this amenity or have wooden or plastic utensils, you will need to designate a space. Some drying racks can connect right into your sink. Just make sure these areas never become cluttered. These are easy to allow items to overstay their welcome. Use your drying towel and have the dishes and utensils back to their homes before leaving the area.

Under Your Sink

Under the sink is a useful area. You can store your trash, recycling, chemicals, and other cleaning agents. This area is where your extra cleaning materials should go that you do not use daily. If you have small children, you may need to put a locking mechanism on this cabinet as well. Extra sponges, cup cleaners, and stain removers can all reside happily underneath your sink until needed.

It is easy to allow your kitchen to become cluttered. Having an organized and clean sink area is something that you need to keep up with daily. Do not let this become the downfall of your kitchen. Take pride in your kitchen and allow your kitchen to warm your entire household.

What You Should Be Hiding Under Your Bed

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As a child, the space beneath your bed used to be a scary place where we imagined monsters lay in hiding, waiting for you to fall asleep. As you grew, so did your relationship with that space. When your mother asked you to clean your room, it became a place to hide the items arbitrarily strewn across your floor. Maybe it is time to shed new light on that space, sweep out all the dust bunnies and make good use of it. With a little creativity and organization, you can use this space to declutter the rest of your bedroom and rob the monsters of their hiding place.

Containers

When deciding what you want to use this space for, store and organize it by time, specifically how often you are likely to use the stuff you are storing. You will not be able to see the rarely0used items that are stored near the middle of the bed, so cardboard boxes work just fine for storage. The items stored near the edges of the bed are going to be visible and used more often, so a more visually pleasing and sturdier storage container is recommended. Containers with wheels can make moving things in and out from under the bed a much easier task.

Layout

Anything you store under the middle of the bed can be difficult to reach and could also be covered by another row of stuff, so make sure it is things you use very infrequently. If you only travel for vacations, suitcases and luggage bags can be useful items to store in the middle of the bed. You can also pack boxes with out-of-season clothing to slide towards the center.

Easy Access Items

In the outer row of boxes, pack things which you may use a bit more frequently, such as extra pillows, blankets, or linens. You can also store items that you use almost daily. In your room, think of possibly storing your shoes here. They are easily accessible and can be organized and spread out when you need to choose the right pair for the occasion and can then be quickly hidden away and forgotten until the next use. If you have children, you can use this space to store their toys, books, puzzles, and games. If you purchase opaque bins, you can toss all the toys in them, quickly freeing up your floor space, and when the kids want to play with them again, they simply pull out the bins.

Decluttering a room can be done without the need to get rid of items. With an open mind, you can find empty space to store things all over your home. Under your bed is just one of many places empty spaces that you can utilize. What other items can you think of hiding under your bed? Let us know below in the comment section!

Entryway Closet Organization

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Your entryway is part of your home’s first impression. While curb appeal and your home’s exterior can help paint a picture, it still leaves people wondering how your home looks on the inside of it. When your guests or friends come to visit, they are welcomed into your home first by the entryway. Typically, these entryways will have a closet to store shoes, umbrellas, coats, and other miscellaneous items you may take outside with you on your ventures. While they may hide your unwanted messes, they also are a very convenient space. Organizing your entryway closet is great for taking pride in the small but powerful details your home may have to offer. Here are three ways to improve your entryway closet:

Shoe Rack

Entryway closets are notorious for having the family’s shoes just thrown inside of them. Add a designated shoe rack to help address this mess. Plus, your shoe rack does not have to be inside the closet. Just make sure your sure rack has a clean and well-kept appearance if not stowed away inside your closet. You can have different shoe holders for individuals in your family or make different tiers to hold different stylings of shoes. A shoe rack is a great way to organize the chaos of your closet on the ground level.

Organization Bins & Baskets

Transform your entryway’s organization by including stylish umbrella stands and holders. You can add bins and baskets around or inside your closet to also add to the styling. Adding organization bins to the top shelf of your closet to store seasonal wear like gloves, hats, scarfs, and more will help to add additional storage. By finding well-designed bins and baskets, you can add to the space’s appeal while keeping it functional.

Built-in Shelving

Go a step further and consider built-in shelving or a locker space. You can organize these for every individual in your family. Simply allow space to hold jackets, store shoes, and have areas for miscellaneous items. Built-in storage can take your entryway organization to the next level and be very classy at the same time.

How do you keep your entryway area organized? Try facilitating some or all of these techniques. Your entryway may not be able to hold all your jackets and shoes, but it is a great space to facilitate storage. For more organizational tips, make sure to subscribe to our content.

Tips for Cleaning Your Closet

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Closets can easily become the melting pot of clutter in our homes. From clothes to storage, these spaces can quickly get out of hand. They are convenient because they are out of sight, out of mind. However, they can become a nightmare if they go unattended for too long. Cleaning out your closet can be a daunting task that is easily procrastinated. However, with a little bit of time and effort, you can once again have your closet feeling functional. Here are the steps you need to get your closet back to normal:

Remove Everything 

Starting the project is the hardest part. By removing everything from your closet, you are in too deep. If you know the project needs to be broken into several days, make categories of what you will remove and when. You can start from the ground up or start with clothes. Just be sure to pull clothes you want to donate, and use large boxes or trash bags to help sort them. You can even pull seasonal clothes from your closet to separate as well. Remember that finding everything in your closet, “a home” can take time.  

Donate 

While cleaning your closet, you will find that it is the perfect time to donate. Create three piles: one to donate, one to keep, and one undecided. Only put back your ones to keep. If you need to grab anything from your undecided pile in the next year, you needed it. If you never think about it again, you can donate it. These are easy tricks minimalist use to help eliminate clutter.

Manage 

You may want to make some small investments in storage management. Buy shoe organizers and storage shelves for your closet. You can buy bins and baskets to help keep your closet organized. When putting your clothes back into your closet, have a purpose. Sort them by casual and formal. Giving your closet a sense of organization can help you manage and keep the space clean longer. 

The closet can be intimidating to clean, but worth the time invested. These simple tactics can go a long way. Stop letting your closet manage your life and learn to manage the mess. For more tips and tricks on cleaning, make sure to subscribe.

Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen Sink

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The kitchen is the heart of the home, and creating your dream kitchen can express your style and design. From mesmerizing backsplashes to intricately designed appliances, your kitchen can quickly become the most stunning part of your home. However, nothing takes away from this dream oasis quite like clutter, and one spot reigns notorious overall in this category: the sink. Having a messy sink is easy. We usually eat three times a day and sometimes feed more than one person a meal, so this can quickly become an eyesore if not taken care of correctly. However, some simple kitchen sink organization skills can help have your sink looking clean and less cluttered. Today, we will break down the three ways to organize your sink and keep it clean and crisp all year. Let’s take a look!

The Essentials 

Your kitchen sink most likely has some critical components which you use daily when washing your dishes. For instance, you may have a soap dispenser, maybe a plug near the sink, and perhaps a drying towel, and even a scrub brush. If you can tuck any of these away in your drawers, take advantage of the space. If not, have a clean and organized set up of where these items belong and assign them to it as their “home” spot. 

Drying Area 

The next key spot is your drying rack. If you have a dishwasher, you do not need to worry about this. However, if you do not have this amenity or have wooden or plastic utensils, you will need to designate an area for drying. Some drying racks can connect right into your sink. Make sure these areas never become cluttered. The drying area is easy to allow items to overstay their welcome, but use your drying towel and have the dishes and utensils back to their homes before leaving the kitchen.

Down Below 

Under the sink is a useful area. You can store your trash, recycling, cleaners, and other kitchen supplies. In fact, this is where your extra cleaning material should go when you do not use them daily. If you have small children, you may need to put a locking mechanism on this cabinet as well. Extra sponges, cup cleaners, and stain removers can all reside happily underneath your sink until needed. 

It is easy to allow your kitchen to become cluttered since we tend to use it every day. That being said, do not let this become the downfall of your beautiful kitchen. Take pride in your kitchen and allow this heart of your home to warm your whole household.

How to Organize Your Garage

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Unfortunately, our garages do not always get the attention they deserve. They quickly become the melting pot for storage items. Well, it is time to grab the bull by the horns and organize that garage space. Knowing where and when to start may seem daunting at first, but with some simple organization tricks and tips, you will have your garage looking pristine in no time. To help, here are our top ways to clean and organize your garage.

Start with a Clean Space 

Pull everything out of your garage. You will want to have a clean, open space available to assess. Broom the area and wash your garage floor. You may want to sweep corners and windows for spiderwebs or dust, as well. While everything is out of your garage, group them together into categories. You may have categories like 

  • Household Tools 
  • Gardening and Yard Tools 
  • Seasonal Items 
  • Car Maintenance 
  • Sporting and Recreational Equipment 
  • Storage 

Organization Tricks 

Once you make your piles, it is time to put them back into your garage in an organized manner. While just putting them back may be your tactic, a couple of small investment may help. We suggest you consider investing in some of the following if you do not already own them. 

  • Cabinet 
  • Peg Board 
  • Bins 
  • Wall Hangers 
  • Shelving 
  • Toolbox 

While none of these are essential, they can make the organization process flow much smoother. Try to keep your piles organized and easy to find when returning them to your garage space. 

Configuring Your Space 

Most garage spaces are limited. Try to get your tools and storage items off the ground. Being able to hang bikes, rakes, ladders, and tools can go a very long way. If you run out of wall space, consider mounting storage to your ceiling. Be cognitive that this does not impede with your garage from opening all the way prior to your installation. This is a perfect spot to tuck away seasonal goods that are not frequently accessed. 

Organizing your garage can be very rewarding. Take your chaotic space and make it a functional storage area because facilitating this space can be very helpful to homeowners.  Just make sure it stays organized for quick and easy access. For more organization tips and tricks, make sure to subscribe. 

Garage Cleaning Checklist

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Garages can quickly become the collecting ground of mayhem and messes. Many people like to postpone house projects and put issues for another date in the garage or basement. However, this eventually leads to a daunting project that we have long been dreading. The best way to embark on this journey is to create a straightforward checklist. Stay focus and take some time out of your weekend because we are going to clean out that garage!

Strategize and Inspect

First, start by assessing the garage. Determine a realistic time frame in which you can accomplish the project. Decide if you need more storage or bins to organize the space. Somethings get put into the garage and not their correct homes. Decide what is staying and what can be put into a storage unit.

Deep Clean

Pull everything out from your garage. Sort them into organized piles:

  • Donate
  • Storage Unit
  • Keep
  • Dispose

You may need to look at the relevance of certain belongings. If it is summer, you may not need to keep your winter items in the garage, so organize it accordingly. Also, when your garage is empty, take advantage of a broom, and wash the flooring. You may want to invest in a degreaser to remove stains from the floor and treat oil. Wipe down your windows and counter space during this time as well. Having your garage fully accessible to be cleaned is a rare opportunity. Make sure to utilize it fully and clean every nook and cranny.

Maintain

Set up a monthly maintenance calendar to avoid the mess. Keeping up and maintaining your garage’s cleanliness is the easiest way to prevent a big project. During each month, pull your cars out and broom out your garage. You can mop it afterward to help keep it clean.

Cleaning your garage can be a daunting task you may avoid, but it needs to be done. It is valuable square footage to the blueprint of your property, so try to stop using it to pack away projects for a later time because having a clean garage is rewarding.

How to Have a Successful Move

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Moving is one of the most significant stress factors in life. We become “nester” and find comfort staying in our old ways of lives; however, change is vital for growth, and sometimes that demands moving homes. Do not let this task feel like an encumbering burden because with a little time-management and a game plan, your move will go smoothly. Plus, you can eliminate your stress by stick to these five simple guidelines for moving:

Make a Game Plan

The first step is to make a game plan. Determine how many days you have until your move. Perhaps a month or maybe a week? Using this time, write out the rooms you will need to pack. You can set goals to accomplish each day to break up the workload. Additionally, you need to price and schedule a moving truck or movers. Write out a game plan for moving day including a timeline of the day to help ensure everything goes smoothly.

Time to Pack

Do not pack any of your necessities at first. You do not want to go for a month without toilet paper or toothpaste. You may want to go to a local grocery store for some free boxes if you do not have them. If not, many moving truck companies can sell boxes to you as well. Once you begin to pack, remember to set aside important documents and hand deliver these items to your new home yourself.

Be Sure to Label

Labeling is important. Not only should you label the contents of the box, but you should label what box goes in what room. You should also label if boxes are heavy, medium, or light for packing purposes as well as have stickers that say if things are fragile. Labels will help your loading an unloading process as well as your unpacking experience.

Hire a Babysitter

Moving day will demand a lot of attention and so do your kids. Plus, you do not want to jeopardize your children’s safety on moving day. With so much going through your mind on moving day, do not forget to hire a babysitter or dog sitter. You have a lot to worry about during the day and having your children monitored by someone else can help alleviate some stress.

Settling in

Welcome to the neighborhood! You may want some of your time dedicated to networking and meeting the community. Even if stress levels are high this day, be smart. You are new to the neighborhood, and your emotions can make a first impression. Be sure to wave to new neighbors and smile!

If you chose Fulton Homes, we are incredibly excited about your new adventure. You will find that our homes are built to last by standing the test of time. Welcome and thank you for choosing Fulton Homes.

“You’re Proud to Own. We’re Proud to Build.” – Fulton Homes

Five Things That Make Your House Look Messy When It Is Clean

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The dishes have been washed, the floors are mopped, and all the kid’s toys have been put away in their proper place, but it seems like no matter how much you tidy up, your home it still looks chaotic. You would be surprised by how small clutter, technology, and a host of other factors can make your house look messy even when you have undergone a deep cleaning. To help, here are some ordinary things that can be affecting the overall aesthetics of your home’s interior:

Tangled Wires

The fifty-inch television in the living room that is probably your pride and joy could be the very thing that is making your house look untidy. Get creative and find a way to mask tangled wires and plugs. Free your walls of HDMI cords as well as cords from the DVD player. Keeping such wires exposed can look tacky and takes away from the room’s decor.

Left-Over Laundry

Are you still trying to find time to fold and put away last week’s laundry? Try to find a place other than the corner of your bedroom or the living room to store clean laundry. There is no doubt that it takes away from the interior. All you have to do is find some time to put things away in their proper place.

Cluttered Countertops

Do you own enough beauty products in the bathroom to stock aisles? Find a way to remove as many products from your counters, and try finding other areas in the home where you can store some products. You can even find new creative ways to create additional under the sink storage. This same method should also be applied when it comes to clearing your kitchen countertops. Getting rid the clutter on your countertops will result in a crisp, clean and streamlined look.

Unmade Bed

We have been told since childhood to make sure the bed was made. Somehow that concept goes out the window on those rushed mornings. Making your bed every day will instantly make things look neat, but it also creates the perfect opportunity to show off your stylish bedding.

Messy Entryway

Is your entryway littered with coats and shoes blocking the doorway? Use storage bins to make space for your bookbags, shoes, and jackets. You can even install additional hooks to hang your belongings and remove them from the floors.

When you begin to see clutter overtaking your home, it can be the perfect chance to tidy up and make your place look brand new. We recommend focusing on these five areas to help make your place sparkling. For more expert tips and tricks, be sure to visit us weekly at Fulton Homes. Thanks for reading!