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Do you remember your first place? When my husband and I first got married, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment that had two closets and a living room so small my husband could stretch out his arms and almost touch both walls. In a word, tiny.

Even though there were times we felt we were tripping over each other, we often got compliments on how nice and (surprise!) even roomy our place looked. It wasn’t until we  crammed in 20 people for parties that our guests would realize they were actually in a crackerbox.

Decorating small spaces isn’t hard, it just takes a bit more strategy. Instead of just making decisions based on what you like, you have to think about how everything will affect the space, meaning how much it looks like there is.

One common thing I see a lot of people do is cram big, bulky furniture into a room that screams for sleek lines. Just because you had two armchairs in your old living room doesn’t mean you need two chairs in your new, smaller one. And if your round dining room table with 8 chairs makes it hard to walk through your dining room, it’s time to pare down to a rectangle table with 4 chairs.

Dark colors are another way to instantly make a room feel smaller. When it comes to creating the illusion of space, it’s all about light. You want light, airy colors on the walls. Window treatments should also be light and airy, to allow more natural light in.

And the easiest way to make a room (any room) look larger? Simplify! That’s means taking a good, hard look at all the things you have in the room and asking yourself if you really need it all. What things are just collecting dust? What things can be better used in another room? The fewer knickknacks and accessories you have, the more open the room will feel.

So even if you don’t have the most space, there are ways to make the most of it, and make your house feel more like a home, less like a shoebox.

I’ve told you before how I love find new ways to use ordinary things I have in my home. Today I’m going to share a few more with you, though I can’t claim credit for them. These are things I’ve seen in magazines, on the Web, even in my friends’ homes - and I just couldn’t wait to try them in my home.

The first is using a toothbrush holder as a flower vase. Use a toothbrush holder with a covered top that has four holes in it. Stick a flower in each hole and voila, instant flower arrangement. Of course, before you try this you’ll want to make sure all of the dried toothpaste is scrubbed off the holder.

The next idea is using wineglasses as candle holders. Using glasses with a thick wall, place votive candles inside. Use sand or very small pebbles to create an earthy bed for the candles to lie in. The look is interesting, elegant and romantic.

One unique idea is to use binder clips to display photos or postcards. You can either stand the clips on their metal legs and insert the picture into the clip, or have the clip lying flat-side down with the pictures in between the metal legs. This has a very modern look to it. You will want to use smaller pictures, as large ones would fold over.

And you know those bulletin board squares you usually use to tack up notes or bills on? Repurpose them into jewelry holders. Decorative push pins add some glamour, and then you can hang up your necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

So there you have it, just a few of the creative ways you can use everyday items. Cheaper than buying the real thing, and you’ll feel so decoratively clever, even if the ideas did come from a magazine or website. I won’t tell.

Happy decorating, Amy

Okay, the closets are done. And I must say, they look fabulous. I have so much more room now! I’m tempted to go buy new clothes, my old ones look so lonely now. But I won’t. The point is to clear out, now clear out and refill.

The next part of my de-cluttering weekend is to tackle the rest of the house. Now, it sounds like a big job when I lump the entire house in one unit, but I’m going to do it in phases. The first phase will a quick once-over, going through each room with a trash bag and seeing what can just be tossed away and what needs to be put away (books back in the bookcase, shoes in the closets, etc.)

The next phase is to go through and see what things I have that I don’t need or want anymore. A lot of things in our homes are special to us. Antique furniture handed down from Grandma, a vase given to you for your wedding. Other things might not have a special meaning, but we just really like them. Like the picture frames that perfectly accent your living room, or the rug that you bought at a flea market and always get compliments on. All of this stuff is what stays.

The rest, however, is stuff that we bought or were given and have found room for, but maybe we don’t necessarily like. Take a look around and I’m sure there are knick-knacks and home accessories, even small pieces of furniture, that are just taking up space without any real function (or sentimental attachment). Box all this stuff up and give it to Goodwill, where it can be adopted by someone who really does like it.

The third phase is to beneath the surface, the stuff that’s hidden away. We’ve tackled the closets, but what about the cupboards, the drawers, all the places that aren’t in plain sight? Sort through the DVDs in your entertainment unit, clean out the junk from the kitchen drawer, clear out the old notebooks in the kids’ desks. It’s stuff that may not be out for everyone to see, but still causes clutter, it’s just hidden.

This will be one of the biggest parts of my de-cluttering. I’ve given myself a day for the second and third phases each, which hopefully is a generous estimate of how long it will take me. I realize that I might no be able to get rid of absolutely every bit of clutter in my house this weekend, but I will be off to a great start. And I can always pick up where I left off next weekend.

Hopefully you’re making progress in your clutter-busting. It’s hard work, but it’s worth, so don’t give up!

Amy

Maybe your closet is neatly kept, but has so much stuff crammed in you can barely shut the doors. Maybe your clothes are in a heap on the closet floor, covering your shoes and making it impossible to get ready for work quickly. Maybe the top shelf of old comforters, boxes, purses and general crap have slowly been gathering dust for the past year.

Unless you’re a total neat freak (in which case you can stop reading now), your closets are most likely a problem area in your home. The first part in my de-cluttering marathon is tackling the closets, getting rid of all the old clothes and accessories and things my family and I don’t need anymore.

The first step: Have a critical eye. I will not be emotional about this. I will not say “Oh, but I love this” about outfits I haven’t worn in years. I will not protest that one day they will be back in style. And I will not hold out hope that all those jeans that are five years old will someday fit me again. I will be ruthless. If it’s not a vital part of my regular wardrobe rotation, then it’s gone.

Next step: Organize. For some, this might mean going out and buying a bunch of new shelves or fancy containers for everything. For me, it means simply putting everything in its place. Shoes lined in the shoe rack, not just tossed about. Belts and purses hung on the door. Sweatshirts folded neatly and put on the top rack. Instead of just cramming stuff in wherever it will fit, I’m going to designate specific areas for specific items.

And finally: See what’s left. Do I have anything in my closest that could best be stored somewhere else? I’m not talking about moving clutter to another spot, since all of my closets are getting cleared out. I’m talking about utilizing each closet in the best way possible. Why do I have towels in my bedroom closet when they could easily go under the bathroom sink or in the hall linen closet? Why is extra detergent in the linen closet and not the laundry room? Once all my closets have space, I can put things in their rightful places, no longer having to cram in stuff wherever there’s extra room.

So there’s my game plan for my closet de-cluttering. Simple, no-fuss, just get in and get the clutter out. Easier said than done, I know, but I am determined. By this time tomorrow, I will have clean and de-cluttered closets!

Good luck with your own closet adventure,

Amy

If you’re like me, you don’t have enough storage space in your house. The closests are full, the cabinets are full, the basement are the garage are full. Simply put, there’s no where to put everything.

The problem, however, probably isn’t our lack of storage space, but our inability to get rid of things we don’t need. Well, no more. This weekend I am going to celebrate Labor Day by cleaning out my clutter! I am going to be merciless, anything that I haven’t used in the last year, anything I don’t like, anything that takes up too much space is going to be gone. And at the end of the weekend, after the dust clears, I will have a clean and uncluttered house.

In celebration of this, my next few posts will be all about how to get rid of clutter in your home. I’ll be sharing some ideas of my own, and a few I’ve found on the web. And now, to kick off our clutter-busting right, is a story that can inspire all of us. Real Simple magazine features a woman living in an historic house that had no closets. NO CLOSETS! If she can make it work, and with four kids no less, then we should all be able to do it.

Happy cleaning!

Amy

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1827168,00.html?xid=weeklynews

Everyone has one. A list of all the fancy features and gadgets and really cool (and useful) things we want for our kitchens. Some items on our lists might be just for show, something fancy that we might never really use, but it’d look neat in our kitchen. Others probably have a purpose, something that would make your time cooking or clening up easier and faster.

My list certainly has both. On the impractical side, I would love to have one of those refrigerators that looks just like your cabinets. The room would just flow so much better without a big, metal box in the middle of our wall. A dishwasher that looks like a cabinet drawer and is so quiet your baby can sleep while it runs is on my wish list too, for pretty much the same reason. Dishwashers are definitely workhorses (especially at my house) but not much to look at.

A fancy backsplash is another of my impractical needs. You know, the impossibly intricate mosaic kind made of thousands of tiny pieces of glass. Maybe it could even be arranged in a fussy picture design, like an underwater motif or a nod to the southwest complete with a cactus and a kokopelli?

On the more practical side, I’d simply love a kitchen with more counter space. Who couldn’t use that? Better lighting (okay, and more stylish light fixtures) is another thing I could actually use. And a pantry, a real walk-in pantry, with spacious shelves and floor space, would also be on my list.

It may be awhile before I get the cabinet dishwasher or my fancy backsplash, but being able to get some of the items on my wishlist, like the lights we’re installing this weekend, helps me feel better about the place where I spend a good chunk of time each day (also known as “my office”). So, dish,  what things top your kitchen wish list? Can’t wait to hear your ideas, practical or not. Regards!

There’s no doubt about it, fresh flowers just light up a room. No matter what shape or color they are, flowers just make everything prettier, and you happier. One thing that doesn’t make people as happy is arranging flowers. This deceptively simple art seems to send a tremor of terror to even the hardiest flower fan. I know, because it used to do the same to me. My idea of arranging flowers was buying a bouquet at the store, putting it in a pretty vase and then switching out a few flowers (and yes, I know that’s cheating). But now, with a very easy floral arranging class, I have seen the error of my ways. Arranging flowers isn’t the master skill you might think it is, and there’s something so gratifying about picking out single stems and buds and creating an arrangement that’s all your own.

To start flower arranging, you want to do some preparations. The first is to water. As soon as you get your flowers home, put them in room temperature water with flower preservative mixed in. This will help your blooms last longer. Then you want to cut the ends of your flowers, which will help them absorb water better. Also, think about what type of container you want to use and whether florist’s foam is in order. The foam helps the flowers stay in place and also stay hydrated.

Now when it comes to picking flowers, you want to add the larger, heavier flowers first. Turn the arrangement as you work, so it will look even on all sides. Then fill in with the smaller blooms. Make your arrangement interesting by having a variety of shapes and stem lengths. But also make sure the height matches the vase you’ve chosen. You don’t want short flowers in a tall vase, just barely peaking out the top, nor would you want tall flowers in a short, squat vase.

Last, fill in your arrangement with some baby’s breath or greenery, perhaps some leaves stripped off your flowers. And that’s it! You’ve got a beautiful flower arrangement, and a newfound sense of pride because this one didn’t come pre-made from the store. Happy arranging and regards!

Our carpet is original to this house. Cream-colored, builder-grade plush boasting eleven years of multiple owners, kids and pets. Needless to say, it is time for a new look. So, where do we start? My husband and I made a trip to the biggest carpet showroom in town. A few days later packages of samples stacked up on our porch. As much fun as it is to look at those samples against our paint and furniture, picking the perfect one is a still an overwhelming task. That is until I found http://carpetology.blogspot.com. If you have question about carpet, you are more than likely to find the answer here, along with dozens of solid articles and handy tips. So, dig in and enjoy learning more about what’s under your feet. I’m doing it and absorbing more than I ever thought possible about carpeting (we’re almost ready to place our order). Regards!

It’s there on your walls, has been for years: a part of your home you’ve grown so used to you don’t even notice it anymore. It’s your wallpaper, and if you take a good, hard look at it, you might just realize that it’s time for it to come off.

I’m not a big fan of wallpaper - there, I’ve said it. I just think a painted room offers a much more clean and fresher feel to it. And if you watch any home redesign show on TV, you know that most of the time one of the first things they do is remove the wallpaper. Voila, instantly the room is brighter and lighter, and all of the homeowners’ worries and cares are taken away.

Okay, so maybe removing your wallpaper won’t change your life, but it can change how you feel about your home. Maybe that dreary bathroom is no longer just a guest bathroom, but one you actually want to use. Your den is now a place where you want to spend time with your family, not a room you avoid.

I have seen some homes where wallpaper was done tastefully, but they seem to be in two distinct categories. The first is older homes where the wallpaper was designed to fit the period the house was built and the homeowners were going for an antique feel. The second is wallpaper borders where there is just one strip around the top of the ceiling, or something similar. In these instances the wallpaper design was tasteful and not overdone or overly cutesy.

If you’re reading this and agreeing with me, then it’s time to think about stripping off your old wallpaper and slapping on a coat of paint. Of course, stripping off wallpaper does require some care. Luckily, there’s the Internet, here to answer all of our home design questions. Here are few links that tell you what you need to remove your old wallpaper and how to do it without damaging your walls. Most of the time it’s a fairly simple procedure that just requires a bit of time and elbow grease.

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/Getting-to-Know-Wallpaper-Removal-Techniques.id-2494.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_221_remove-wallpaper.html

If you’ve ever redecorated or remodeled a room or house, you know the decisions are endless. This shade of white or that shade of white? Wood floor or carpet, or tile? Valances or blinds for the windows?

Choosing countertops is no different. If anything, I think it’s gotten harder to choose the perfect countertop for your home. There are so many choices now. There’s the standard laminate (which, if you watch any redesign show on HGTV, is always the first thing to go in the kitchen). Granite countertops are immensely popular right now, a must if you are trying to sell your home. There’s butcher-block counter tops (my favorite) that allow you to cut and chop right on the counter.

Fancier (and pricier) options for countertops these days include quartz, stainless steel, lavastone and even paper composite! So when it comes to countertops, how do you decide which is right for you? There are a few key things to consider. Price, first and foremost. You don’t want to spend weeks eating noodles just so you could afford the fancy countertops.

Durability is another thing to consider. If you’re the type that’s constantly cooking, something that stands up to the test of time is essential, whereas those who cook by ordering takeout can go with something a little less durable. Ease of cleaning is another factor to consider.

Below are several links that can help you decide what things are important to you when it comes to counters, and which type of counter best fits your needs.

http://www.kitchens.com/products/countertops/materials.aspx?ekmensel=c580fa7b_226_502_btnlink

http://interiordec.about.com/od/kitchencounters/tp/tp_countertops.htm