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If you have a small house and/or a growing family, it can be a struggle to find enough space to store all your belongings. Not having a clear and effective organizational system can make the problem even worse. Here are some tips to make room for your stuff and make things easy to find if you have a limited amount of space.

Only Keep Things You Need
Start off by going through your home and getting rid of anything you dont need. Many people hold onto items for sentimental reasons or because they think they might need them someday. This results in a lot of unnecessary clutter. You can probably get rid of something if no one in your family has used it in the past year, or if you own another item that can perform the same function. Sell it, donate it or recycle it. Whatever you do, dont let it continue to sit around just taking up space. Before you buy a new item, ask yourself if you really need it, would use it often and have enough room for it.

Use a Variety of Organizational Strategies
Separate rooms into areas with specific functions. For example, in a childs bedroom, make areas for clothing, toys, books and art supplies. A clear system that both parents and kids can understand will make it easier to stay organized.

Maximize the use of available space. If you have a closet where you hang clothes on a rod and theres empty space underneath, thats the perfect place to put a shoe rack, or possibly even a dresser.

You can buy shelving units in a wide range of heights and widths at any home improvement or big box store or online and put them in a room or inside a closet. Use boxes, baskets or plastic storage bins that are easy to stack and arrange on shelves to store childrens toys, off-season clothes, toiletries or pretty much anything else. If you have some free wall space, install hooks to hang items such as kitchen pans.

It may seem like a good idea to neatly arrange your shoes on the floor in your closet or in the entryway, but its also easy to just drop shoes on the floor when youre tired and wind up with a mess. Use shoe racks instead.

Look for furniture, such as tables and ottomans, with built-in storage. You can use space under furniture, particularly under beds, for storage, as long as items are organized in containers.

Make a Plan to Get and Stay Organized
Staying organized in a house without a lot of storage space takes planning, creativity and discipline. Start by figuring out what you dont need, then create a plan to find places for all the things you do. There are plenty of clever furniture pieces and strategies to make it easier.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Home is where the heart is, as they say. To truly make your house your own, and to turn it into the place of comfort and relaxation that it should be, you do need to show your home a little extra love. These inexpensive ideas will have you falling more in love with your home.

Add Some Fresh Flowers
Nothing says you care like fresh flowers, and nothing will spruce up your room in quite the same way. Add a pop of color and an air of intention to your space with a vase full of your favorite blooms.

Brighten it Up
A home that feels dull and dark doesnt feel well-loved. Brighten up your rooms with extra light fixtures of your choice or by opting for a sheer window covering that will provide a bit of privacy while letting in the sunshine during the day. Whatever you do, theres no doubt that a bright and cheery home is a mood booster for everyone living in it.

Declutter Ten Items
Letting go of excess baggage is good for any relationship and its true for your home too. Take a minute to select 10 items that you could live without. Donate those items. Just dont make it complicated. Remember, this isnt a long drawn-out decluttering session, but a quick way to let go of a few items weighing down your living space.

Add Some Art
If you have been hesitant to hang art, theres no better time. Art will lend a personal and polished look to your home. Dont be afraid to splurge on art you love and that youll enjoy for years to come. If you arent sure what to look for, find a low-budget option to see how a particular style feels in a room. When youre ready, you can spring for the real thing.

Gift a Signature Scent
Show your home a little extra devotion by choosing a signature scent. Find a candle that you love and light it often to ensure that your home smells like more than yesterdays fish dinner or your pets furry dog bed. Opt for a gentle scent that will waft through your home if used regularly. Similar to perfume application, you want a hint of a lingering and tantalizing scent. You dont want to be overpowered with the smell the instant you walk into a room.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre tired and eager to get home, it can be a hassle to get out of your car and manually open the garage door, climb back into the car, pull into the garage and then close the garage door. This can be particularly inconvenient if its dark, raining or cold. An automatic garage door opener can make your life easier and less stressful, but there are some downsides to consider.

Increased Safety and Security
If you have medical issues that make it difficult to bend or lift, manually opening a garage door several times a day can take a toll on your physical health and possibly lead to injuries. An automatic garage door opener can eliminate those risks.

A manual garage door can go crashing to the ground, even if something or someone is in the way, which can cause serious injuries or death to children or pets. Automatic garage doors have sensors that can detect an obstruction and cause the garage door to stop and remain in place or return to the ceiling.

Since an automatic garage door can only be opened by pressing a button or by entering a secret passcode, it will be difficult for burglars to break in. This is particularly important if your garage is attached to your house. Remote controls utilize technology that repeatedly changes the passcode to prevent hackers from obtaining that information and using it to enter a garage without permission. With an automatic garage door opener, you wont have to install extra locks or a security system to keep intruders out of your garage.

Power Outages
Since automatic garage door openers need electricity to operate, a power outage can render an opener useless. An emergency release cord can disengage the garage door from the automatic opener if the electricity goes out, so youll be able to manually open and close the door until power is restored.

Costs
Automatic garage door openers can be complicated to install, so the job should be done by a professional. Installation costs depend on the type and size of the doors and the company performing the work.

In addition, automatic garage door openers require special batteries that need to be replaced about every two years, plus routine maintenance, such as cleaning to prevent rust. Repairs and replacement of damaged or worn-out parts may be expensive.

Should You Install Automatic Garage Door Openers?
Many homeowners enjoy the convenience and security of having automatic garage doors, as well as the reduced risk of accidents and injuries. Its important to be aware of the downsides, though. If youre interested in having automatic garage door openers installed, contact a few local companies and ask about the models they offer and the costs.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Bored with your basic kitchen? These inexpensive updates will liven things up in no time!

Add style to standard wood cabinets with a quick coat of paint. Try painting the lower cabinets a dark color, like gray or navy, and the upper cabinets white.

Open up a closed space by converting a cabinet to open shelving. Just remove the door and leave the shelving and back of the cabinet in place.

Update older appliances with appliance-approved paint or magnetic stainless panels.

Create an airy feeling by taking down a pantry or closet door. Install some shelving and stock it with attractive baskets, jars and other containers.

Published with permission from RISMedia.