Pantry Door – Family Message Center

Magnetic Chalkboard Door becomes a great Communication Tool

Take a look at our new Pantry Door!  When the glass broke on the old one, I decided to utilize this large surface in a prime location to become a fully functioning Message Centre.   When planning a family message board, location is everything! There is no better place to ensure great communication between family members than on a wall space in a high traffic area..  Take control of your busy schedules and create a fun, visible system that will keep your family running smoothly.

What works on our Pantry Door – Family Message Center:

1. Weekly Activities – what is the family up to this week?
2. What’s For Dinner? – weekly meal plan and grocery list
3. Don’t Forget! – Important reminders
4. Messages – family members stay in the loop

** Can’t view this week’s video blog?  Watch this and other videos on our Blog Page and Niche Designs YouTube Channel!.

I hope you enjoyed reading, Transform Pantry Door – Family Message Center. For more DIY Home Renovation Storage Solutions visit our blog. Looking for Custom Design Storage in Calgary visit our services page.

Looking for creative ways to maximize the storage in your kitchen?  This downloadable Kitchen Calm Class has all of the tips and tricks you need.  (Play the free sneak peek before you purchase!)

Kitchen Cupboards – Create More Storage in Your Kitchen

Do your bottom cupboards look like one big “mosh pit”?  Do you have limited drawer space?  Are most of your cupboards too dark and deep to retrieve kitchen supplies easily?  If you answered “yes” to any of these, check out the simple storage solutions below…and watch this week’s video with Guest TV Host, Astrid Kuhn, On Air Media!

1. Roll-Out Baskets
2. Door Storage Solutions
3. Create “extra” Shelves

Kitchen Pantry Storage Solutions

Are you having difficulty finding what you need?  Are you purchasing doubles, or even triples of the items you store in this small space?  Does you pantry floor quickly become a dumping ground for dog food, cereal boxes, and rotting potatoes?  If you answered “yes” to any of these, check out the simple storage solutions below…and watch the video with TV Host, Astrid Kuhn, On Air Media!

1. Recycling Station and Bulk Food Rolling Carts
2. Tiered Shelving Systems
3. Corral Items like your Grocers

image by pbteen.com

Tweens bedrooms have a reputation for looking like utter chaos. The mass of clothing and papers littering the floor can cause frustration for any parent. Most tweens are very busy running from one activity to the next and tend to just “drop and go”. They have also accumulated an assortment of items over the years, and may not be ready to part with them. Let’s not forget their growing independence and the need for a private space all attribute to the bedroom “warzone”.

If you chose to read this article, I’m betting that you struggle with this issue on a weekly basis. You are not alone in this battle, so don’t throw in the towel yet. If you can find a way to involve your tween and keep it simple, there is hope for maintaining a room you can both live with.

Now that you are ready to tackle this area, remember to allow your tween to personalize their own space. Ask them what is important for them to keep, and what items can be tossed or packed away. The less they have to clutter the room, the better. Provide a simple organization system. The more complicated the system, the less likely your teen will use it.

Speaking of closets, have you noticed how inefficient the typical one rod/one shelf closet is? The area left under the rod is a colossal waste of prime real estate in your child’s bedroom. If you give these tips a try, you can maximize the closet space to store more than just clothing.

• Break up larger areas into smaller ones by adding shelves, baskets, and an additional clothes rod to double the hanging space.

• Utilize the inside of the closet or bedroom door for either an accessory board made out of cork, or a pocket organizer for the small items that tend to disappear in the chaos.

• The top shelf is ideal for storing memorabilia or seasonal clothing. Use labeled bins with lids to keep these items free of dust.

• Install hooks on the wall for their hoodies, packs, and clothing that they can’t be bothered to hang in the closet.

The study area can also become a dumping ground for papers, supplies, electronics, and clothing. If you want to create a space your tween will actually use for schoolwork, take a peek at these helpful tips.

• Designate a corner of the room for a desk area. A simple tabletop mounted to the wall will do fine. (IKEA)

• Capitalize on the wall space surrounding the desk. Install a memo board with schedules and photos, a wall rack or shelf to house magazines and books.• Help your teen create a simple filing system for organizing school papers using wall pockets or a small file box.

Organizing your tweens bedroom can be challenging, and maintaining this order can seem impossible to some. Meet you tween somewhere in the middle when it comes to your expectations for a tidy room. Keep it simple and schedule seasonal purges to prevent the piles from taking over.

Makeover your tween’s room with Niche Designs’ Virtual Design Services.  The “mini” package is all you need to create a room full of fun and function!

For DIY storage solutions, check out Niche’s weekly blog, simple strategies, short video “how-to’s” and a lot more…

Kids Clothes Storage Solutions

1. Modular Unit with Cubbies – fit into the closet or used in the bedroom rather than a traditional dresser.  Easy to find, even easier to put away!
2. M-F Hanging Sweater Organizer – put together the wardrobe for the school week with your child and include complete sets each day.
3. Under Bed Bin for Seasonal Items – make good use of an under-bed storage bin to keep off-season clothing free of dust and make space for the clothing needed daily.

 from socks to PJ’s…each in their own cubby!

** Can’t view this week’s video blog?  Watch this and other videos on our Blog Page and Niche Designs YouTube Channel!.

I hope you enjoyed reading, Kids Clothes Storage Solutions. For more DIY Home Renovation Storage Solutions visit our blog. Looking for Custom Design Storage in Calgary visit our services page.

Simple Toy Storage Solutions

Want to stop your kids’ toys from taking over your home?  Looking for better ways to make the “toy tidy” easier?  No matter the age of your kids, toys find their way on the kitchen counter, in the bathroom, and on your desktop.  I could go on for days with organizing tips for this dilemma, but have zoned in on 3 Effective, Inexpensive and Simple Toy Storage Solutions instead.

Choosing the right Bin/Basket

• no large totes with lids allowed
• toy chests are a recipe for disaster
• medium sized bins that can be labeled and lined up on a shelf or in cubbies

• chalkboard sheets that peel and stick are perfect for plastic bins…with the flexibility to change frequently
• DIY plastic name tag sleeves adhered with double sided velcro tape.  Slip a picture of the contents, or print out the item category

Wall Solutions

• get the small stuff off the floor and organized into the pockets of a hanging shoe organizer
• hang buckets or baskets on the wall to clear up floor clutter

I hope you enjoyed reading, Simple Toy Storage Solutions. For more DIY Home Renovation Storage Solutions visit our blog. Looking for Custom Design Storage in Calgary visit our services page.

Master Closets

For some people this is a major selling (or buying ) feature of a home.  There has been a trend towards a focus on ‘grand’ master bedrooms incorporating a ‘larger’ master bedroom, with large en suite and typically a large, walk in style master closet. However, turn the clock back to 90′s and you will see not so much of a focus on the ‘master’ bedroom and master closet.

Over the last few years there has been a trend for families moving into older communities, known for their established schools, parks, and larger, more mature lots. Some of these homes are being torn down and re-built, but the majority of these older 70′s style homes are undergoing renovations. These homes are typically smaller, and pose challenges in several areas of the home.

This is especially the case for the master bedrooms of these older homes.  Because of these smaller rooms, the closet space becomes an issue, for these master bedrooms typically do not have a walk in space you would find in newer homes.  Consequently, a closet storage re-design is on top of the priority reno list.

When two people are sharing this space, it is of utmost importance to consult with a professional and discuss the specific organizational needs.  Does this space need to accommodate a collection of shoes, suit jackets, accessories in “excess”, or perhaps be home to the washer and dryer.  If you are going to spend the time and money to renovate this all important space, you’ll want to build in function from the start!

Tips on Storing Accessories

Getting dressed without the colourful scarves, rockin’ belts, and layers of bracelets is no fun at all.  No more searching for your favorite accessory piece under a pile of sweaters! Check out these Tips on Storing Accessories and create storage in full view, or neatly tucked away.

• Cork Board OR Shadow Box Jewelry Storage
• Drawer Dividers for belts, socks, or ties
• Tension Rods for your Scarves
• Slide Out Belt Storage
• Cubbies for your Handbags

Shoe Storage Solutions and Ideas

Looking for creative ways to store and display your most prized possession?  Check out this week’s DIY Video.  5 Shoe Storage Solutions and Ideas to prevent your shoes from loosing their pairs!

1. Paint a piece of crown moulding, mount it to the wall, and hang your favorite heels on the ledge.
2. Take a photo of the shoes your rarely wear, adhere it to a shoe box and line them up on a top shelf safe from dust and grime.
3. Make use of a closet door or wall space.  Hang a shoe rack to hold as many as 36 pairs.
4. Throw your flip flops and sandals in an under-bed bin that rolls in and out easily.
5. If you’ve got space on the bottom of your closet, use a 12 cubby shoe unit to tuck pairs into.

I hope you enjoyed reading, Shoe Storage Solutions and Ideas. For more DIY Home Renovation Storage Solutions visit our blog. Looking for Custom Design Storage in Calgary visit our services page.

Bathroom Small Space Storage

1. Roll Out Storage Baskets - found in any hardware store, these stackable baskets can store extra toiletries, cleaners and paper products.
2. Door Organizers – use the cupboard doors to store anything from hair tools to bath supplies.
3. Shower Caddy – Got kids?  Try these 3-basket shower caddies in fun colors!
4. Magazine Rack – repurpose this wall unit to store towels, toilet paper, and hair product.
5. Suction Power Caddy - adhere a couple of these bamboo storage bins to the mirror above the sink and keep the counter clean.