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• Home Organization • Paper/Filing Systems • Time Management | ||||||||||
ARTICLE OKYou’ve sorted and purged and you’re ready to purchase some products that will help you to stay organized. There are many different items on the marketmaybe you’re confused about what to buy? To give you a little help, I’ve compiled a list of what I think are some helpful, useful, and functional organizing products. To quote Maria in The Sound of Music, ‘these are a few of my favorite things...’ Helper Shelves Helper shelves double the horizontal space of a shelf, offering more space for above and below the helper shelf. They often come in 3-4 different widths and heights—some are width-adjustable. Helper shelves can be found in the same aisle as other kitchen organizing products and purchased at general stores like Target or in specialty stores such as The Container Store. They can be used anywhere you need to double a shelf space—a closet, a cabinet, a pantry. I even use them in my freezer! Box Bottom Hanging Files If your hanging folders are bulging with paper or you have many folders within a category in your hanging folder, consider using what’s called a box-bottom hanging folder. They have flat bottoms (cardboard at the bottom keeps them flat) and come in 1", 2" and larger widths. Using these prevents folders and papers from spilling out of the top of their hanging folder. Crystal Hangers If you’ve read my article, Joan Crawford: An Organizer in Diva’s Clothing? You would know that I, like Joan, despise wire hangers. They’re really meant to be disposable and used only in the short-term. Yet, peek into any closet and you’re bound to find anywhere from a few to more than a hundred hanging on the rod. There are many different types of hangers but my favorite is known as the ‘Crystal Hanger.’ They got their name due to the fact that the hanger has a body that is often translucent and resembles a crystal vase or bowl. What’s so great about this type of hanger? • It is wide enough to span across most shoulder seams without leaving shoulder bumps in the fabric. • The metal hook at the top glides across rods and spins easily making it easy to place in the closet. • It comes in shirt, skirt, and dress suit varieties • Fairly low costI’ve seen them at Wal-Mart for $1.69 for a 4pack. Drawer Dividers Everyone should have a ‘junk’ drawer, but does it need to look ‘junky?’ No, way! Keep your junk drawer neat with drawer dividers. There are two different types of drawer dividers. One is an ‘Expand-a-Drawer’ which is a one-piece item that expands to fit most kitchen-sized drawers. The other type comes in individual pieces that usually come in combinations of 3” sizes (Ex. 3” x 3” to hold pushpins, rubber bands, or loose change or 3” x 12” for pencils, scissors, etc.). Rubbermaid, as well as a many other companies make them—they can be found in almost any housewares department (I’ve seen them at Linens-n-Things, too.). Don’t forget to measure your drawer space and it’s contents before making a purchase... Shredder There’s a reason why CitiBank keeps coming out with those funny commercials for identity theftthey’re a not-so-subtle reminder of what could happen if someone goes dumpster-diving and comes across your address or credit card statements. To prevent that from happening invest in a shredder for your home or home office. Depending upon your usage, there are many options. For those who don’t have much shredding to do, a small, portable shredder may do the trick. Some even come with their own garbage cans. If you’re a ‘power user’ you may want to consider a large capacity machine. Why take chances? Calendar/PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) We’re all running in different directions but how do we know where to run if we don’t write it down somewhere? In order to keep track of appointments, birthdays, and everyday tasks, a calendar or PDA is a must. I would have trouble functioning without my PDA but if you’re one of those people who prefers to write, a pocket or wall calendar works just as well. I recommend choosing one that has lines to write onthis keeps your day, week, or month page organized and looking neat. Label Maker What would I do without this—one of my most necessary, beloved, and favorite organizing tools? I’ve had clients swoon over it, children have begged me to play with it, and cats have been mystified by the way the label exits the machine. What can I say about the label maker? It is an incredible organizing tool—it adds visual ‘punch’ to files, containers, and any other surface that requires a label. Black text on a stark white background grabs the eye’s attention. You can get a label maker that costs between $10-$50 or higher. The more features it has, the more expensive it will be. If you’re contemplating revamping your filing system or are trying to get your kids organized, I highly recommend having one in your home. Consider an investment in any of the above products is an investment in your newly organized home and the new, organized you. *Browse the Article Archive for Organized Artistry's time, money, and sanity-saving tips and ideas... | ||||||||||
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Editors/Publishers:You are granted permission to publish the above article in its entirety provided that the following 'footer' is included after each article: Article by Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC. Visit http://www.organizedartistry.com for your FREE e-list of 'Top Ten Tips for Organized Living.' A courtesy copy e-mailed or snail mailed to the address below is appreciated. | ||||||||||
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WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE NEEDS ORGANIZING? | ||||||||||
Organized Artistry LLC • PO Box 2682 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 • 201.703.8438 stacey@organizedartistry.com | ||||||||||
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