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Organizing Small Spaces by Joan Kosmachuk

Whether you live in an apartment with limited square footage or struggle to organize the smaller rooms in your Hilton sized mansion, join me weekly for thoughts and tips on organizing and making the most of your small space.

Latest Posts:


Storage -- the first step in designing your small space Paint, flooring, lighting are all key elements to good design, but right along with these is 'storage'. In small space design, especially, it is a key element to get right --without it, even the best design will soon be buried beneath a sea of clutter. Every area of our homes/lives needs good storage. Whether you are redecorating a single room or designing an entire new home, here are 3 steps to planning for adequate storage in your design. 1. Make a list of all the activities that will take place in each room and who will be doing these activities.... Read more... posted on: 9/2/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Organizing your small Entry ... Read more... posted on: 8/26/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Table Talk for small spaces I just came across this great "moon" table from Xiaoping Design and I think it's a brilliant example of a multi-functional table. United, these two half-moon shaped tables form a lovely round table which is perfect for dining, playing games and so on. But apart, the pair make great side tables or they can easily sit flush up against the wall flanking a doorway as temporary display tables. ... Read more... posted on: 8/19/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Ideas for expanding your closet space in your small space ... Read more... posted on: 8/12/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Fitting Pets into Small Spaces I recently read this post on the Openhouse Blog by Deb Wolfe. She shared pictures of her daughter's newly decorated apartment and what is especially great about this room is that at first glance you probably didn't spot the dog's crate. Look closer, over to your right, and you'll find it -- it looks suspiciously like an endtable and so it is -- a great combination piece. Read more... posted on: 7/29/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Storing Books in Small Spaces Skyline Bookcase, Levenger If you love books, like I do, and live in a small space (like I do) , one of the big challenges you'll face is how to find room for storing all your books. The skyline bookcase from Levenger is one great option. In one square foot of floor space (6' tall) this bookcase can store up to 100 books on its nine shelves and it's slim footprint allows you to place it almost anywhere. The spine bookcase from West Elm is another skinny possibility, with a base no wider than a large book. Almost 6 ' high it boasts 10 shelves, however you do need to store your books horizontally. Slim bookshelves are not the only place to store books. Look for furnishings that can serve a dual function such as a headboard with built-in bookcase or a platform bed with shelves underneath. Consider a coffee table with space for storing oversized books or an end table with shelves. With the use of bookends, books can also be stored on top of kitchen cupboards or an armoire or a windowsill. Of course before you start piling those books up, be sure that they are books you love, plan to read or refer to again, and/or would want to have available to loan to a friend. All the others should get passed on for someone else to read. A personal library should be personal -- just the books that you love, need, and read. My best book storage solution in my small space is my library tote bag -- it allows me to bring in as many new books as I like without having to worry about long term storage and if I need them again, I know just where to find them in their online catalogue. Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian readers! Take the day off and celebrate with a great read. ... Read more... posted on: 7/1/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Folding Bikes work great for Small spaces STRIDA With the rising cost of gas, this organized blogger has been wondering if it might not be time to dust off the old bicycle. A purely figurative term in my case since my old bicycle has long since been sold and I couldn't imagine where I would put a new one in our small space. That is until I happened to be walking by Vessel last weekend and spotted the STRIDA 3. What, folding bicycles? Not such a new concept if you've been keeping up with the trends but if you are in the dark like me, you'll be amazed to learn of the... Read more... posted on: 6/24/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Decluttering your small space for Others Aid to Women, Cedar Rapids Iowa "If you have clutter you are richer than you think. Look at uncluttering as an opportunity to share your abundance – the stuff you don't need – with people who could really use it." --Donna Smallin, The one minute organizer. I was helping a woman sort some 300 pair of shoes the other day. She lives in a small space and it is very cluttered. But the shoes are all "good" and she "loves them" and "paid good money for them" and so the reasons go why the shoes cannot go. ... Read more... posted on: 6/19/2008 7:04:59 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Filing Papers in a Small Space If you live in a small space you probably don't have a spare room you can devote as a home office. In fact, you may be sorting your... Read more... posted on: 6/10/2008 8:00:00 AM by Joan Kosmachuk category: Clutter

Hanging Laundry in a small space