Tiny Spaces, Big Ideas

I was inspired by an article from Real Simple Magazine I read recently.  It had some interesting ideas about how to make the most of small spaces - especially great for those in studio apartments, city living and small offices.

The first idea I liked was about arranging furniture.  Most people like to shove furniture up against the walls to maximize floor space.  However, this often breaks the natural flow of the room.  Think about using a couch, desk or table as a room divider or partition.  Look at some great examples from William Paid:


The third page of the article offers two great tips, that I suggest often to those I work with:
1) Go vertical!
2) Use multi-tasking furniture.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, use the wall space you've already got.  Most people ignore their eight foot ceilings for three or four foot shelves.  And, leave boxes of books, knick-knacks and the like stored away, with no room to display them. Another blogger, has a great design example of using her vertical space:
Multi-tasking furniture is pretty common now.  For example, an ottoman that doubles as storage for games or movies.  A trunk that holds linens, but doubles as a coffee table.  These pieces act as furniture, but also work as storage.

The fourth tip in the article is one that many organizers work within, but most people never think of on their own: Make your space work for you.  The example given is that if you don't eat in your kitchen, there's no need for a table in it; use the space to better suite your needs.  I saw a fantastic example of this in Time Out Chicago's September 6 article about living in incredibly small apartments in the city.  This gentleman put his bed in the kitchen, because that's where it made sense for him.  Not too common to keep the bed in the kitchen, but it fits perfectly and works for him.

Keep in mind, chances are you have enough space to make the place livable.  There might need to be some purging of things you no longer need, and some rearranging of what you know you love.  But, we can always make it work!

Going on Vacation

I know it's not the most popular time of year to go on a trip, but I'm headin' for vacation!

Like most people who are going away for more than a couple nights, I already have an idea of what activities I'll be doing.  I've got to pack accordingly.  And, I've got to make sure it fits in the bags I want to take (so I don't get charged baggage fees).  Here's my plan:

First, I've got to know what I'm doing and the weather there.  I'll be in Florida and the Bahamas for this week long trip.  There will be (fingers crossed) lots of sunshine and outdoors time.  I'll be involved in some physical activities that take place in the water, as well as on land.  There will also be at least one evening that I'll need to dress formally.

Second, I want to break it down, so I know how much I need of what.  I like to write it all down on paper, so I can have the satisfaction of crossing it off the list.  I'll be gone 6 nights.  Here's a glance at my packing list:
As you can see, I also include tasks to do on my way out the door.  Keep in mind, I'm also only packing for myself.  Now, I know what I want to take.  As I pull these items out of my closets and drawers, I stack or fold it all up on a surface, like my bed.  This gives me a sense of how much volume I'm working with.  I can scratch off items as I go.  If I think of something else along the way, I add it to the bottom, so I don't forget.

To pack, I start with the bag I know will be with me the whole time I travel: either a day bag or a purse.  I pull the items I want in there first: passport/paperwork, cash, vitamins/medicine, camera, book, flash drive, any real jewelry I'm not wearing on the plane and my glasses (I really don't want to be without those!).

From what's left, I work on getting my clothes and shoes to fit well in the suitcase.  Sometimes, rolling clothes, instead of folding can use less space.  For formal items, rolling causes less wrinkles, too.  If my shoes aren't clean enough to lay against clean clothes, I put them in a plastic grocery bag.  I can then use those plastic bags for dirty or wet clothes and shoes on the return trip.

Assuming everything I want to pack is clean, I can pack in about an hour from start to finish.  About a week ahead of time, I'll glance through my clothes to see if anything I want to take needs washing, repairing or dry cleaning.  I'll also glance through my travel-sized bathroom items to see if I should buy anything new.  I can pack the day before the trip then, and not have to deal with a semi-filled suitcase on the floor for a week before leaving.  Allow at least an additional 30 minutes for each extra person you might be packing for.

What packing routines work best for you?

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