STORAGE IDEAS

As a professional organizer, I am constantly asked to give suggestions for the best organizing products.

     My first suggestion is always this: use what you have. You probably have decorative baskets, jars or containers stored in your home.

     My second suggestion: use items in creative ways. When I moved into my apartment, I didn’t have a basket to store my cleaning supplies. Until I could purchase something suitable, I used metal hanging baskets (for plants). I hung them from the shelf above my dryer. They are easy to reach if I need one products, or I can take the basket down and carry it from room to room as I clean.

     My third suggestion: store things where you use them. If you sort your mail in the kitchen, you are better off getting a decorative mail organizer for the kitchen, rather than storing it out of sight in an upstairs office. Chances are you won’t want to go up there all the day, so the mail will end up piling on the counter anyway.

     My fourth suggestion: make sure your organizing style matches you lifestyle and personality. Don’t try to change your habits – it won’t work. Just because it works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you. For example, if you know that you hate lifting lids and covers to put away or retrieve objects, don’t buy closed storage containers. Get some decorative baskets or other open containers.

     My final suggestion: make you your go through the area or space before you buy any type of storage. Sort through items and throw away old, expired, or damaged products. Then, assess how much you have so you can buy the correct amount and type of storage.
If you need to buy new storage, here are some of my favorite ideas and products. Some are inexpensive, while others require more of an investment.

Here are some of my favorite organizing products.  

The first few items are from JCPenney:

Bookcase, Studio Ladder, JCPenney

Ottoman Storage Cube, JCPenney

These products are from Target: 

14-inch Collapsible Cube, white, Target

3x3 Storage Unit, Cherry, Target
You can use storage baskets or cubes with this piece. Or alternate with cubes in some and books in others.

Medium Storage Basket, Blue, Target

 Here are a few items from the The Container Store.

 Medium Flat Wire Stacking Shelves, The Container Store. These are great pieces for cabinets to increase storage space. They come in many sizes. They also make types for pot and lid storage.

3-Tier Chrome Cabinet Organizer, The Container Store
This is great for organizing spices. You can see all of them in one glance.

Water Hyacinth Bins, The Container Store
This is just one type of decorative basket. They come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and more.

Flowerburst Deco Boxes –- other styles available, The Container Store
Storage boxes can be attractive!

Bamboo Drawer Organizer, The Container Store
These also come in wire or mesh versions. There are numerous styles, sizes, and
configurations. Some are even adjustable.

Silver Mesh Mail Sorter, The Container Store
Keep it at your desk, or carry it with you if you like to pay bills in another room.

The last few items are from Amazon:

Plastic Bag Storage, Amazon
There are also hanging fabric versions in numerous colors and styles. It's amazing
how many bags you can store in these products!

Laundry Sorter, Amazon
This keeps your laundry sorted, making the task of laundry a little simpler.

     These are just a few of my favorite storage and organizing ideas. I could keep going, but this will give you a good start on getting organized.

SELECTING INTERIOR PAINT

     It’s time to paint the inside of your home. Why do so many people dread this task? Besides the almost unlimited number of color choices available, you also need to select the brand, type, and sheen of paint. No wonder painting is so overwhelming! 
     Not all paints are created equal. Sometimes you get what you pay for. On average, you will usually pay at least $25/gallon for good quality paint. Here are some tips on choosing the type and sheen of paint for your project.

OIL OR LATEX
     The first decision is whether to use oil or latex paint. Both have pros and cons. The overwhelming majority of people choose latex, and that is my recommendation for the average homeowner. It is water-based, which makes clean-up easy. Latex paint is simple to apply and dry time varies from 1 hour to 8 hours, depending on the brand and type.
     
     Oil paint does not dissolve in water. Therefore, it is more difficult to clean up after using. – mineral spirits are needed. Oil paint is thicker, and more difficult to apply. However, it does provide better coverage than latex. It is extremely durable, and can be used on a wide range of surfaces. It is not as popular with homeowners because of the long dry time, and strong smell from the chemicals. Dry time can be 12-24 hours or longer.

      In oil-based paints, VOCs are used as the solvent that dissolves the other ingredients in the paint. Latex uses water as the main solvent, but does have varying amounts of VOCs.
Latex paints are now available in no or low VOC formulas. In order to be labeled low-VOC, paints must meet the EPA’s guidelines (www.epa.gov).

VOCs
     Volatile Organic Compounds are organic chemicals used as solvents in many paints. They are the ingredients that give paint its characteristic smell. VOCs are released as gases from paints that contain them. They have the potential to be harmful to our health. However, there is still much debate over the exact short and long term effects. Other products that emit VOCs include cleaning supplies, furniture, and carpet.

SHEEN
     The next decision when buying paint is to select the finish. Choices include between flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, gloss, and high gloss. The paints increase in sheen as you go from flat to high gloss. Shinier paints are easier to clean. However, the shinier the surface, the more it shows any unevenness or flaws in the walls.

     Flat paints have no sheen to them. Another way to look at it is that they don’t reflect light as much as other finishes. This makes them the most difficult to clean. However, they also are the best to use if your ways are not perfect. They won’t highlight imperfections. Matte is very similar to flat, with possibly a very small hint of sheen. Like flat, it is durable and easy to clean. Both flat and matte are good choices for walls in rooms that don’t get high traffic.

     Eggshell and satin are similar, if not identical. Different brands use different terminology. They are durable, and easier to clean than flat paints. They have more sheen than flat, and are better at hiding imperfections than the shinier paints. This is one of the most popular choices for walls.
     Semi-gloss has a shine to it; it reflects light. A semi-gloss finish is easier to clean than the finishes mentioned thus far. It is a popular choice for cabinets, trim, dressers, or walls in areas that get lots of wear and tear, such as entries and bathrooms.

     Gloss is very shiny. You can use gloss for the same projects as semi-gloss. Most people find it too shiny for walls. Also, both semi-gloss and gloss should not be used if the walls are in poor condition, as the paint will highlight all the flaws. As you can imagine, high gloss is the shiniest of the paints finishes mentioned here. It is rarely used by the average person. It can be good on trim or cabinets.

     Overall, eggshell (or satin) and semi-gloss are the most popular for the average homeowner.

BRANDS
     There really is no best paint to recommend. Everyone has their own preferences. I tend to favor Behr paints from Home Depot. I like eggshell or satin for walls, and semi-gloss for furniture, cabinetry, trim, and wainscoting. 

     Here are some manufacturers and brands that offer low or no VOC paints. These are just a few. Many more are being introduced all the time. Do a web search or check out Consumer Reports for reviews (www.consumerreports.com). Keep in mind that different sheens of paint from the same company can perform differently.

Low VOC options:
1. Behr Premium Plus Enamel (from Home Depot, www.homedepot.com)
2. ben Low VOC Paint (from www.Benjaminmoore.com)
3. Duration Home Interior Acrylic Latex (from Sherwin-Williams, www.sherwin-williams.com)
4. Valspar Ultra Premium Interior Paint (from Lowes, www.lowes.com).
5. Kilz Casual Colors (from Walmart, www.walmart.com)

No VOC options:
1. YOLO Colorhouse (www.yolocolorhouse.com or Home Depot, www.homedepot.com)
2. Harmony Interior Acrylic Latex (from Sherwin-Williams, www.sherwin-williams.com)
3. HGTV Home (from Sherwin-Williams www.sherwin-williams.com)
4. Benjamin Moore Eco Spec Interior Latex (from www.benjaminmoore.com)
5. Olympic Premium Interior Latex (from www.lowes.com)
6. Mythic (from Mythic Paints, www.mythicpaints.com)
7. The Freshaire Choice (from Home Depot, www.homedepot.com)

PLANTS WITH FALL COLOR

     Fall is almost here! I can’t believe how fast the summer went by. For those of you who like to garden, here are some plants, including perennials, shrubs, and a few trees that that will show their color in the fall, some with flowers, and others with foliage. 

     Please make sure to check the list of invasive plants in your area before planting any of these. One site that lets you do this is: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/main.shtml. You can also check with your local Cooperative Extension Office, . http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/.

     All pictures are taken from Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening (Plant Finder). 


 1. Eurpatorium (white snakeroot): Zones 3-8; white blooms from September through frost; 3-5’ tall.

2. Zinnia augustifolia (creeping zinnia): annual; zones 2-11; orange, yellow, white, pink, or red blooms from June to frost; ; 8-16” tall.

3. Tagetes patula (French marigold): annual; zones 2-11; yellow, orange, red, and bicolor blooms from June to frost; 6-12” tall.

 

4. Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican sunflower): annual; zones 2-11; blooms in orange-red, with a yellow center from July to September; 4-6’ tall.

5. Brachyscome (Swan river daisy): annual; zones 2-11; lavender, violet, blue, yellow, or white blooms, with yellow to black centers, from May to frost; 12-18” tall.
 

6. Lobelia siphilitica (blue cardinal flower): perennial; zones 4-9; blue blooms from July to September; 2-3’ tall. 

7. Celosia argentea var. cristata (cockscomb): annual; zones 2-11; orange, red, purple, yellow, or pink blooms from June to September; size varies.

8. Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’ (Aster): perennial; zones 4-8; blue-violet to purple blooms in August to September; 12-18” tall.

9. Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Arthur Simmonds’ (bluebeard): deciduous shrub; zones 5-9; blue blooms from July to September; 2-3’ tall.

10. Chelone glabra (turtlehead): herbaceous perennial; zones 3-8; blooms white with a pink tinge from August to October; 2-3’ tall. 

11. Chrysanthemum ‘Jessica’ (chrysanthemum): perennial; zones 5-9; blooms in bright yellow from September to frost; 1 ½ - 2’ tall.

12. Helenium ‘Moorheim Beauty’ (sneezeweed): perennial; zones 3-8; blooms in a bronze-red color from August to October; 2-3’ tall; NOTE: Despite its common name, it does not cause allergies; it is ragweed, which blooms about the same time, that can trigger allergies. 

13. Helianthus salicifolius ‘Low Down’ (willow-leaved sunflower): perennial; zones 6-9; flowers have yellow rays with brown centers, and bloom from September to October; 8-12” tall.

14. Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Prairie Sunset’ (false sunflower): perennial; zones 3-9; yellow rays with maroon center and maroon tinting on the rays, and it blooms from June to September; 3-5’ tall,

15. Solidago caesia (blue stem goldenrod): perennial; zones 4-8; yellow blooms from August to September; 1 ½ - 3’ tall. 

16. Perovskia atriplicifolia (russian sage): perennial; zones 5-9; lavender-blue blooms from 
July to October; 3-5’ tall. 

17. Anemone hupehensis (Japanese anemone): perennial; zones 4-8; pink blooms in August to September; 1 ½ - 2’ tall.

18. Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (feather reed grass): ornamental grass; zones 5-9; foliage changes from green to tan in the fall; 3-5’ tall; provides winter interest if not cut back.

19. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’(eulalia): ornamental grass; zones 5-9; the silver-gray blades turn yellow in fall; plumes are pink, and turn to white as they mature from late August through fall; 3-4’ tall; provides winter interest if not cut back. 

20. Molinia caerulea (purple moor grass): ornamental grass; zones 5-8; blue-green foliage turns golden to orange-yellow in the fall; no winter interest.

21. Panicum virgatum ‘Cheyenne Sky’ (switchgrass): ornamental grass; zones 5-9; flower panicles turn burgundy-red in late summer; 2-3’ tall; winter interest if not cut back.

22. Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ (dwarf-winged burning bush): deciduous shrub; zones 4-8; leaves turn bright red in the fall; 9-11’ tall.

23. Dahlia (Dahlia): bulb; zones 7-10 (but can be grown as an annual in other zones); red, 
pink, lavender, purple, orange, yellow, or white blooms from July to September; 1-6’ tall. 

24. Acer Palmatum ‘Katsura’ (Japanese maple): deciduous shrub; zones 5-9; leaves turn orange and yellow in the fall; 10-12’ tall.

25. Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’ (black chokeberry): deciduous shrub; zones 3-8; black berries in fall, along with purple-red leaves; 3-6’ tall. 

26. Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’ 
(stonecrop) (autumn joy sedum): perennial; zones 3-9; blooms from a rosy pink to a burgundy-red from September to October; 1 ½ - 2’ tall. 

27. Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass): ornamental grass; zones 4-9; flower panicles start as a brown color with yellow stamens, and turn to dark brown and bronze through the fall, and then fade to gray over the winter; 3-5’ tall; provides winter interest if not cut back.

28. Brassica oleracea (ornamental cabbage): annual; zones 2-11; color is provided by foliage in shades of white, cream, pink, rose, red, or purple that intensifies in the fall; 1 – 1 ½’ tall.