Pantry Shelving - The Best Way To Organize Your Kitchen

Warehouse clubs and bulk food stores provide families with fantastic deals on food items, pantry items, and paper products at great prices and in large quantities. Today's families enjoy the discount on bulk items, but once they return home with their purchases, they need a place to store them until the items are needed. Pantry shelving is a must in every kitchen for storing everything from food items to seldom used bulky kitchen appliances. Great shelving and organization shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to maintaining a clean and orderly kitchen and home.

Every home, whether it is a studio apartment, a mansion, or any size in between, will benefit greatly from an organized pantry. Shelving is available in solid wood, stainless steel or wire components. Use every inch of space possible for efficient pantry storage.

Trying to organize small bottles, such as spices, to gallon sized juices and canned items, and every size item in between can prove to be a real challenge. However, with the proper shelving in your pantry, organization can be a breeze.

Here are a few ideas for an organized pantry.

1) Door and wall racks - these are perfect for small items such as spices, envelope mixes, or smaller baking items like muffin cups, etc. These will work on a door that swings out, but not sliding doors.

2) Undershelf baskets - these sturdy baskets slide onto a shelf and hang underneath to house kitchen linens or china.

3) Stacking shelves - these wire shelves come in varying heights and lengths, and stack one on top of the other, to help you make the most of your space.

4) A portable wine rack - if you purchase wine or other bottled items consistently, this might be a good option for storage, as long as you have the space on a shelf or under a shelving unit.

5) D-shaped shelves - these shelves are often used in an odd-shaped space for canned goods, boxed goods, or items in tins and will turn independently of one another inside a cabinet.

6) Gravity feed can rack - this is perfect for storing several canned goods. It stands upright with the highest point toward the back of the shelf. Place your most recently purchased items in the back (top) so the oldest items are used first.

7) Tier organizers - small items fit well on these organizers and enable you to see at a glance what you have on hand. They're especially handy for storing spices.

8) Pull-out shelves - these are very popular and can be installed into a cabinet, hutch, or an existing shelving unit. This style of shelving is a fantastic space saver since it pulls out when you need an item toward the back of the shelf, but pushes back in for storage.

9) Turntables - these fit perfectly in several spaces and turn full circle to enable you to store items while utilizing every bit of space on the shelf.

Shelving in your pantry can be both functional and attractive. If you have an open pantry setup, use coated wire baskets for items such as vegetables, fruits and potatoes. Store paper items in attractive baskets that compliment your home's décor. A unique crock, tins, crates, and large glass jars are all great ways to maximize your pantry space and still be attractive.

Get creative when choosing pantry shelving. Use what works best for you and your family and you'll get the most from your investment.

To learn more about pantry shelving visit http://www.shelving-resource.com/, a popular website designed to help you organize your life. You'll find information on all kinds of shelving for the home as well as industrial shelving for larger storage spaces.

By Ned D'Agostino
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ned_D%27Agostino
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Some Space Saving Decorating Ideas For A Studio Apartment

No bedrooms? No problem.

Decorating a studio apartment is easy! The key is to always be thinking of ways to maximize your space. Efficiency is where it's at...no pun intended.

Try these quick space saving ideas when decorating your studio:

Futon- Getting a Futon is a great way to maximize space. During the day...if you aren't a vampire...you can have it folded up as a couch, but at night..when its time to sleep or pass out...easily unfold it into a bed. There are actually some very comfy and affordable futons out there. I slept on one as my bed for two years and slept like a baby.

Entertainment Center/Dresser- You might also look into finding a dresser that has enough top space to house your TV, X-Box, and Stereo. This will help save the space you would need on having two separate pieces of furniture. The biggest bonus is that it is really easy to watch your Soaps while you fold and put away your clothes. How sweet is that?

Storage- Find creative ways to store things like tupperware under the couch or a shoe rack by the door. Go beyond just shoving the ironing board in the hall closet. There's usually space underneath the dresser or on top of the kitchen cabinets.

Get Fun With The Trash Can- You may think I'm joking, but a great way to decorate in a small space is with something that you have to have. Instead of using the traditional waste basket...get a used over-sized football toybox. Usually has a lid and works great. If thats not your thing...always use a little waste basket under the sink.

Go Wireless- Make sure and set up your internet with wireless. You don't want to be tied down anywhere in a small space. Set up a wireless router and get a laptop so you can use anywhere in your apartment. A small stool in the kitchen area turns the kitchen counter quickly into a computer desk. Just make sure and not get too close to the sink. Water ruins computers.

Best of luck in your new apartment! Have any great decorating ideas for a studio apartment? Drop by ApartmentHomeLiving.com and share it. Stop by if you are looking for an apartment too!

Jeff's just a regular guy with a funny goatee that really enjoys people and life. On top of that he is a bit of an expert on apartments, living in them, and getting the most out of the apartment living lifestyle.

As a Managing Partner of Apartment Home Living, Jeff wants to help you find the right apartment by getting to know you. Not only where you want to live & what you want to pay, but what you like. This way, we can help you find an apartment that fits your personality, not just your budget.

At AHL Apartmentites have a platform to share their own stories, get great info & tips on apartment living, read Jeff's entertaining blogs/stories, find Answers to a wide array of apartment related questions, and have a ton of fun sharing their love of apartment living with others. Don't forget to go and set up your own MyPlace page to really get the full Apartmentite experience!



By Trey Huguley

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trey_Huguley

Image from: http://www.bedstar.co.uk/shop/files/images/thumbs/t_22315.jpg

Space Saving Fans - What to Look For

Fans are an economical answer to your cooling needs. They are easy to install, easy to operate and most importantly they result in energy savings. They can be either used by themselves in mild weather or they can be used to complement the air conditioning during the hot summers. Fans will give you the advantage of setting your air conditioning at a higher temperature resulting in saving energy and lowering your electricity bills.

Before you buy a fan you have to decide what you want. The market is flooded with different types, brands and sizes of fans. Here I will try to list out the various features that are available. You can decide what you want and then select your fan based on this. I am sure one of the most important requirement would be that this piece of equipment doesn't take up much space and isn't a sore eye to your decor.

You have ceiling fans, pedestal fans, tower fans and wall mount fans just to name a few. Considering the space element, the ceiling fans will most probably save you the most space because they are right up on the ceiling not taking up any of your floor space. Next would probably be the wall mount fans that will sit neatly on your wall. The pedestal and the tower fans will take up some floor space, but they come in so many kinds of designs that you could choose one to go with your decor. The tower fans are lesser in width than the pedestal fan but taller.

You will need to zero in on the features that you want your fan to have. Some of the features that you should look into are:

* Size: The fans come in different sizes. The diameter of the pedestal fan could vary from 16 inches to 30 inches. The wall mount fan could be as small as 10 inches and you could have varying heights for the tower fan. Choose a size that best fits your room.

* Material: Your entire fan could be made of plastic. Check to see if it is too flimsy. If it is completely made of metal it will be sturdier but of course also heavier. Sometimes the legs may be made of plastic and not strong enough to withstand the weight.

* Installation: Most of the fans are easy to install. But be prepared for missing screws and parts than have bent in transit. You should be able to get a replacement from the company. For wall mount fans take special note of where the switches are. If they are on top of the fan it could be inconvenient. The cord that comes with the fan might not be long enough to hang the fan high on the wall. You might need to add a short extension cord in such cases.

* Noise: Look for a quiet motor to have a sound sleep at night. There are fans than might seem very silent when running at low speed, but at higher speed the noise level might be unacceptable.

* Oscillation: Some fans have up to 3 oscillation functions - the standard horizontal oscillation, the vertical oscillation and a combination of both horizontal and vertical oscillation. This is called the dual axis oscillation and ensures movement of air throughout the room. There are some wall mount fans where only the grill oscillates, rather than the entire fan.

* Timer: Look out for the timer. Many fans have them, but see at what intervals they can be set. There are fans that have timers go up at 30 minute intervals up to 7.5 hours. There are others that have only hourly or sometimes only every 2 hour settings.

* Ionizer: This is an added benefit available on some fans. It will take care of any smell that carries into the room. Also check if the ionizer can be switched off if you don't need to use it.

* Remote: Some of the fans come with a remote that will help you control the speed, oscillation, mode of operation and set the timer as well. Nice to have if you don't want to keep getting up from where you are sitting or at night in your sleep.

* Appearance: The fans come in various designs and colours. You could get one with a wood panelling if you have wooden walls or floors or a nice stylish looking black tower fan to match your decor.

* Customer Service: Last but not the least the after sales customer service of the company whose fan you choose to buy should also be a factor to consider just in case you were unlucky to get a defective piece or if one of the parts came damaged or you have a problem with the installation.

Having said all this, there is one big criterion that will influence your purchase - the cost of the fan. Again you have a wide cost range available depending on the amount of features on the fan.


by Tameka Norris

Learn how to decorate Small Spaces. Also enjoy, furnishing tips, photos of small spaces and projects for the DIYer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tameka_Norris

Space Saving Tips For Small Bathrooms

It's essential to get the most space out of your bathroom as most bathrooms do contain limited space for such objects in the average house hold. It's not a physical space saving tip to use light colors when painting or decorating a bathroom, but in the sense of lighting and feeling it really does provide a bigger atmosphere so this tip should be used in a small bathroom.

Lighting in a small bathroom is very important and is the best way to make you and others feel like they are in a spacious room rather than a dingy dark one. Options include spotlights from cabinets and the ceiling which provide phenomenal lighting in any room without using up any space as they are implemented. Curtains sometimes get in the way and make a room feel darker, so replacing them with blinds will give you that natural lighting effect you want with the same amount of privacy.

In terms of physical space saving options it's a good idea to use wall hanging objects such as mirror cabinets and towel holders so you not only have all that extra space on the floor but you get that extra storage option available. Another good tip is to purchase a bathroom set that can be implemented into corners of a bathroom and hide pipes that no one wants to see.

Most families include a bath and a shower in their bathroom if they have a big enough room - but this isn't always possible in the average house hold unless it feels really cramped. If you want a bath and a shower it's still possible by purchasing a shower that fits on the wall above the bath. This shower also normally includes a glass enclosure attached to the side protecting the bathroom from being covered in water.

The possibilities for creating that extra needed space are endless but the main tips for doing so would be keeping the bathroom simple and clean, having a simplistic effect automatically gives the spacious illusion to visitors. Having a couple of mirrors around the room is also a good technique - but not too many as this will over do it.

By James Chapman
 
Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms who supply Small Bathrooms for the UK market.

Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Chapman