| |
| |
|
Home Improvement Information |
|
|
|
How To Give Your Home More Space
Have you been wondering how to free up space in your home? Do you live in a dorm or an efficiency where every inch of space counts? Maybe you're tired of trying to come up with ideas on how to reduce the clutter? Or don't know where to start? If you don't know where to start and feel like you're backed into a corner then maybe this is your solution to the problem. Let me introduce you to the top-to-bottom-strategy. It is a procedure that can be of great service to you if you are starting out and you are about to move into your own home. Or if you already own a house full of furniture and are willing to sell or donate what you no longer want in order to purchase a better version. It will work in many situations from great to small. The greater your willingness to get rid of the old and bring in the new, the bigger space difference there will be in your home. You may not want to exchange out many items in your home but decide on a few select items that will make a big difference once you've gotten rid of them. The most beneficial part of the top-to-bottom-strategy is that it can be customized to your preference. That's what makes it very opportunistic--it can be adjusted according to your desires. The top-to-bottom-strategy is a simple three step procedure that will help you reevaluate your thought process. This strategy deals with three levels. And each level can be used to help you better furnish your home by weighing any item you want or own against the top-to-bottom-strategy. The 3 Levels Level 3: Ceiling
You'll notice with each level you move from top to bottom. Also notice that each level moves from ONLY taking up air space to taking up walking space. Items that DO NOT affect your walking zone are considered to be items that take up air space. The further up your item is positioned the freer your walking zone. And the more space you have in your home. The highest level that you can go is Level 3. In which an item you purchase is mounted from your ceiling. You may have, in the past, considered furnishing your home using these three levels, but only under certain conditions. For example, you may have first wanted a floor lamp but instead decided to get a sconce installed on your wall or a chandelier mounted from the ceiling rather than your first initial idea. That is a situation in which all three levels are used accidentally. But normally, you are likely to find that you have constantly left out Level 2 and Level 3 when you consider furnishing your home with a new item. The reason for this is easy to understand--you normally see what you want and then you buy it. And when you've done this there has been very little organization in furnishing your home. Except with the thought of whether you have enough floor space for the item in consideration. Before today, when you've considered purchasing an item you haven't really considered the three levels in combination with the item that you want. You were never taught, and never thought, much about the three levels because history never offered such circumstances until recently. Manufacturers today are creating products with the less-is-more idea in mind. Home furnishings are far lighter and far more space conserving now than they ever have been. So this strategy was never needed in the past since our predecessors had an entirely different way of life. Less busy. Less complicated in specific areas, and so on. But that is clearly not the case today. When you recognize that you want something from this day forward you can easily offer your home the best space possible by considering whether you can furnish your home with an item on Level 3 first. And if it is not possible on that level, drop down a level until it is possible to furnish your home on that specific level. Take for example, a television. Level 1: Floor You know your home can easily be furnished with a television using Level 1. And your most space conservative item to mount a television on is a pedestal tv stand, or a tv pole that extends from the floor to the ceiling. When you use Level 1 you want to be certain to brainstorm for the most space conserving way to use your floor space. You'll want to find the smallest, yet most reliable item that you can find that will do the job. And when you are able to find this type of item, it is so good at space conserving that Level 1 almost gives you the same advantages that Level 2 does. For example, if you were to use a tv pole to put your tv on. The pole itself takes up so little floor space and mounts the tv in midair that it's similar to furnishing your home with a tv using Level 2. Level 1 will always take up floor space and interfere with your walking zone. The best you can do with Level 1 is get an item that uses as little floor space as possible and interferes with your walking zone as little as possible. Level 2: Wall These days with lcds and plasma tvs, you even know that your home can be furnished with the television using Level 2. And your most space conservative item to mount your television on is a tv wall mount. But not only can lcds and plasmas be mounted on the wall, your average television can be too. There are dozens of wall mounts out there that mount regular tvs. But tv wall mounts may be something that has never surfaced to your mind. And this is a good example of when Level 2 is often left out of the picture. Level 2 will not take up floor space but it will interfere with your walking zone the majority of the time. The higher an item is positioned on your wall the less it will interfere with your walking zone. If it is positioned very high on your wall it will have the same exact advantages as Level 3. It will only take up air space and offer no space interference. Level 3: Ceiling Same goes with tvs and Level 3. There are dozens of ceiling mounts out there that your tvs can be mounted on. But ceiling wall mounts don't arise to the surface of many minds. And this also makes a good example of how Level 3 is often left out of the picture when furnishing your home. Level 3 will not take up floor space or interfere with your walking zone (assuming you are not so tall that you actually reach your ceiling). Level three only takes up air space. It offers the most advantages. There are dozens and dozens of items out there that you may not even know exists that you can furnish your home with. That are considered much lighter and more suitable alternatives than what you have in your home right now. Consider an aquarium and the three levels. Did you know that wall aquariums existed? Not the type that you put inside of a wall, but the type of aquarium in which you can hang on your wall like a picture? They are often referred to as Living Pictures. Living Pictures could be saving you space in your home right now if you knew about them. If you own an aquarium that's taking up a large amount of floor space you could easily incorporate Level 2 in your home to give yourself more room. Not to mention you have more of an advantage by being able to place your Living Picture just about anywhere in your home. Knowing about the top-to-bottom-strategy is offering yourself more freedom. And more knowledge. And knowledge is power. One of the best ways that you can find out about these items is by using the top-to-bottom-strategy in combination with surfing the net and researching each item that you're interested in. Always remember to research what you want (using the top-to- bottom-strategy) before you go out and buy what you see. (c) 2003 by Tameka Norris About The Author Tameka Norris helps others simplify life's little complications by revealing the small things that are often overlooked: http://www.simple-living-tips.com; tips@simple-living-tips.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Home-Improvement - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Gel Candle Safety: What You Should Know Before You Buy A lot of attention has been focused on gel candle safety in recent years. Irresponsible (usually foreign) candlemakers have flooded the shelves of dollar stores and discount retailers with poor quality and at times unsafe container gel candles. Measuring For Your Vinyl Replacement Windows Let's say you're tired of those old wood windows, and you decide it's time to upgrade to vinyl replacement windows. You get 2 or 3 contractors to come out and give you an estimate. Fixing Old Wooden Chairs Fixing Old Wooden ChairsIF you have some old chairs that have broken or missing rungs or posts. Don't throw away the chairs, repair them. Installing Retrofit and Replacement Vinyl Windows In previous articles i explained to you how to determine whether your windows are candidates for vinyl replacement style frames or retrofit style frames. This week I'm going to explain the installation techniques for both frame styles. How to Select the Best Laminate Flooring for You Hardwood flooring - its' traditional look is almost timeless, its' beauty is unmatchable. However, it's pretty hard to maintain a hardwood floor, not to mention the price you have to pay for it. Advice on Waterproofing Your Deck Even if you undertook the task of building your own deck, you understand the large investment (both monetary and in time) that went into the project. Decks add beauty and value to a home, and are often the family's favorite place on lovely afternoons. A New Era in Bathroom Technology - Bathroom Home Improvements Spa treatments in your own home? Sounds to good to be true? In everyday life we are all continually faced with stress, aches, pains or just plain fatigue. In response to this modern day problem, , the largest product distributor in the United States, is pleased to offer the greatest collection of computerized multi-functioning luxurious and , all in one unit for your . Keep Your Home Happier It turns out your mother was right after all -- Happiness really does begin at home, with the things and the people you are surrounded by. Your vision is one of the first messengers to send signals to your brain as to how it feels. Use Air Filters and Common Sense for Allergy Relief Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? If you are one of the millions of people that do, air filters and air purifiers provide much needed relief. Do you have smokers in the house? Air filters or air purifiers get rid of smoke and odor in your home. The Ten Most Important Feng Shui Design Tips If you wish to learn how to manage interior design according to feng shui design guidelines, there are some major tips you must know. We wish to help you achieve a balanced and harmonic feng shui design for any environment you wish it to be. Avoiding Leaks When Installing Vinyl Retrofit Windows These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old windows with vinyl windows using the retrofit style of window frame. This is particularly true in the west, and specifically, in California. Poster, Print or Painting. Where Are You Going To Put It? If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings. Interconnects for Your Audio/Video System - Choosing The Proper Cables Research & Development I began designing audio and video interconnect cables in 1988. I was asked to develop custom interconnects for discriminating audio and videophiles, who wanted to see and hear the quality of their components and the source material without added personality from their interconnects. A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place Tax season is over.. How to Paint Your Own Artwork - And Save Money Everyone wants to save money. Don't you? Well, painting your own, color matched art can be a lot easier than you might think!Usually the picture that you want for your room will have an outrageous price. What Two Words Will Double the Space in Your Home? Just two words and a bit of explanation about them will help you to double, maybe even triple, the space in your home now. Those two words are "Go vertical. Employ Passive Solar Energy and Start Saving Electricity Today 1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the land Orientate your living areas to the south side of the house, which receives most of the sun throughout the day (north if you live in the southern hemisphere). Easy Ways to Increase Your Houses Value Before getting your house valuated think about the list below and if you should implement them to increase your house's value.Clean up your house: Clean your house thoroughly. Hot Tubs: Without A Shadow Of A Doubt Guarantee Relaxation When You Dip Your Feet Into The Water! A staple of healthy outdoor living, hot tubs equals to water therapy that pound our bodies with jaw dropping and heart stopping relaxation. Dating back to Roman times, baths served as a medical remedy in treating many maladies. How To Care For Your Leather Furniture Leather is the most durable fabric used for furniture today. Although leather is so resistant to harm, it is always wise to take precautions when taking care of you're furniture in order to ensure it always looks great.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
