Choose Wisely

Reuse. Repurpose. Readjust—but don’t replace. When choosing storage solutions, look for durable products that adapt again and again for a long lifespan. Before you buy, find out what’s inside… Does the product contain recycled materials? How does it affect air quality?

Know Before You Go

Extra trips to the grocery store cost you time, money, fuel and frustration. Plan a menu for the week so you buy only what you need. Set up your pantry space for quick inventory so you know what you have before heading out the door. Sort by food type.Turn food labels outward. Group items often used together. Stack back to front in descending size.

Get Fresh

Stock your pantry with pull-out baskets to store and display fresh, local produce (many goods like tomatoes and potatoes fare better outside of the fridge). Plus, local foods require less fuel in their transport and fewer preservatives since they get to your table sooner.

Work Smart

By showing the boss that you can work effectively from home, you’re likely to get the go-ahead to do so more often, saving gas and time. Get the day started early before the kids are up. Locate your workspace near natural light to improve alertness; use shades to reduce screen glare. Change up your posture and take breaks from time to time to keep your mind fresh and your focus sharp.

Refine Recycling

Locate recycle bins in a place where it’s convenient for you to sort recyclables right after use.This makes your weekly recycling day a cinch. Give recyclables a proper rinse—ensuring they don’t contaminate the batch (or attract pests). Situate a paper-only mini-recycling center near desks and craft areas and consolidate weekly.

Simplify Cleaning

When you don’t give grime time to build up, you’ll be less likely to resort to harsh chemical cleaners. Organize for light, frequent cleanings. Consider storage solutions that lift your stuff off the floor, making way for a swift sweep or speedy scrub. Use see-through baskets and hooks to keep earth-friendly cleaning supplies at the ready: microfiber cloths, spray bottles, baking soda, vinegar, lemon.

Gather Your Giving

Designate a space to store items destined for charitable donation.There’s no point in letting good things from last season languish in the back of your closet when someone else could put them to use. By establishing a zone for this stuff, you’ll also make it easier to remember to take it along on your next errand.

Be a Lifelong Learner

What we know about sustainable living is always changing, always growing. Expand your knowledge by checking out these websites:

earth911.com
thegreenguide.com

Suit Yourself, Your Spouse, Your Students

Before you plan your home office, consider everyone who will use it. Is this space exclusive to you, or does it include a spouse and children? Think about the postures they’ll assume and the stuff they’ll want to store when they bring work home, play computer games or do homework here.

Get Comfortable

Though the science of ergonomics is complex and ever-changing, you and your family can benefit from the basics. Situate desk and chair heights so that your knees, elbows and hips relax at right angles while you’re seated at the keyboard or writing area.To comfort taller or smaller family members, choose an adjustable chair, and add a footstool when needed.

Shed and Shade Light

Natural light can keep you alert and focused, but make sure to shield your monitor from direct rays to reduce glare.You may light the room with an overhead or floor lamp, but be sure to add a smaller, task-based light to avoid casting a dark shadow over your work.

Remember to remove clips and staples from office paper and mail you send to the recycler. These metallic bits can contaminate a batch of recycling larger than the one you’ve produced.

Anticipate Technology

Make room for the tech goodies you own today, and those on your wish list. If you’ll use a wireless laptop, consider lighting and seating for multiple locations. If you’re working with a desktop model, try shelving or strapping the CPU below to save precious surface space—just don’t stow it where you’re likely to play footsie with the delicate hard drive.

Stock Your Shelves

Get strategic with your shelves to make room for what you’re working on right now and leave space for the personal props that inspire you: photos, post cards, fingerpaintings. At an arm’s length, stow pens, stapler, clips, and the few references you use daily—so you won’t have to get up to rummage for them when you’re on a roll. Use other shelves to stack extra paper, toner, envelopes and stamps—supplies that will save you a mid-project trip to the store.

Protect Your Peace of Mind

Designate your primary work zone a sacred space. Clutter can dull your focus and wrinkle your brow.You’ll be surprised how a clean desk policy can de-stress even bill-paying.

Sort Before You Stash

Spare yourself a prolonged office cleanup by making quick decisions. As you encounter new papers, decide whether you’re using them this minute, this month, or in a month of Sundays. Clip, tack or prop up pieces you need now to get the job done. Use letter trays, brackets or nearby shelves to stack papers you’ll need later this month (references, articles, pending bills). Relegate nonurgent but important items (financial and health records) to your big file cabinet or deep drawers. Send sensitive information you don’t need to keep (offers that include your credit card number) right to the shredder.

Show it to Know it

Prepare a pleasing and project-worthy visual aid with a chalk or marker board… a place for your running list of to-dos, your best ideas and reminders to other family members.

Whether you’re bringing work home, doing homework, or compiling the family books, a home office provides a convenient place to get work done. With the right solution, this space can blend effortlessly into your home, even doing double-duty as an office or media center. Here are a few tips to help a single small space perform admirably whether you’re on or off the clock.

Do a disappearing act.

Paper, notebooks, and pens may be necessary for your work, but they don’t have to stay out in the open. Conceal them behind storage doors and drawers when not in use so your home always looks tidy and neat.

Blend the lines.

If your office is sharing space with other living areas, look for ways to blur the boundaries so they can coexist peacefully. Using open shelves to show off personal mementoes can help this type of space feel connected to the rest of your home.

Raise the bar.

Opt for a design that uses support feet to raise cabinets off the floor, creating a contemporary, residential feeling.

No loose ends.

Consider all of the items you bring into your home office, and plan storage space for each of them. Then stash your briefcase, remotes, or technical equipment in a cubby instead of leaving them out in the open.

Let there be light.

A well-lit surface makes every task easier, but there’s not always room for a separate task light. Instead, mount low-profile LED strips beneath upper cabinets to illuminate the work surface when the area is in use.

Don’t let your home office or entertainment options be limited by small spaces. Good design can make the most of any space, letting you experience the best of both worlds.

When you’re expecting company, welcoming a kid home from college, or making room for last-minute guests, a spare bedroom is a welcome addition. But the rest of the year, an extra bed may take up more floor space than you’d like. With a Murphy Bed, you get the best of both worlds, so you don’t have to choose between your guests’ comfort and your own desire for extra space.

Stretch Out

In between guests, stow the Murphy Bed against the wall behind bi-fold doors, opening the room up to all kinds of possibilities for everyday living. Add a TV to create your own entertainment area, or use the open space as a sewing room, art studio, or exercise room.

Rest Easy

The twin, full, or queen-sized frame holds a mattress up to 11 inches thick, so you or your guests can get a quality night’s sleep. And everyone knows, a good night’s sleep starts your day off right!

Lost and Found

Prevent guests from losing their belongings while they sleep with a folding headboard that covers the gap between the mattress and the wall. Add a pillow-box with soft-close hinges to serve double-duty as a nightstand and convenient bedside storage.

Guest Accommodations

Open shelves invite guests to stow their belongings up off the floor during their stay. With ORG Home, you can combine a Murphy Bed with surrounding storage and display cabinets that give your room a polished look and practical function any time of day.

With a Murphy Bed, you really can have it all: comfy guest quarters that are ready whenever you need them, and extra space for your own pursuits as well.

Turning your entryway into an inviting, efficient transition space can lift your spirits every time you walk in the door. Follow these simple tips to upgrade your entryway, foyer, or mudroom into a stylish, organized space that will always welcome you home.

Have a Seat

Create a convenient spot for tying shoes or removing them before entering your home with a built-in bench. It also provides a handy place to set shopping bags when you come in.
Add Upscale Style

Choose colors, textures, and a style that complement your home and make a positive first impression. Shown here, the combination of Driftwood color with natural woodgrain texture, sleek hardware, and a White bench made of thick Forterra is one of many possibilities to express yourself.

Keep It Together

Spacious wall-to-wall storage offers room to store gear for every season, so you’ll always know exactly where to find that pair of gloves or your favorite sun hat. Custom designs for your home mean you can maximize storage space without wasting a single precious inch.

Claim Your Territory

Sturdy hooks give everyone in the family a designated spot for stashing or grabbing jackets, bags, and other everyday items. Add a few extra hooks for visitors and one for the dog’s leash.

Do a Disappearing Act

Maintain a clean and orderly appearance by storing items neatly out of sight behind cabinet doors or inside drawers. Plan a drawer for every season, sport, or family member.

Put It There

With a designated storage spot near the door, you’ll always remember where you put your keys, your garage door opener, or your favorite shoes. Low-profile drawers with full extension glides make it easy to find what you need at a glance when you’re in a hurry.

Designate a Drop Zone

Take advantage of underutilized space in your garage to create a mini-mudroom. Use hooks and baskets for grab-and-go convenience, and keep small items in overhead storage. A boot bench encourages people to remove shoes so your floors stay cleaner, and it offers a convenient space to set bags while you open the door.

When the entrances to your home are properly equipped, it’s easy to keep these busy spaces looking clean, organized and inviting.