TLC :: Clean Sweep :: Tips & Tricks

November 22, 2009

Tips & Tricks

	More Season 1 Tips & Tricks From Last Train From Clutter Town Whenever you get a new toy for your child, purge one that she no longer uses. You can create drama and function in a room by constructing a wall-sized entertainment center. Files are meant to be used for reference. If they're just lying around, it's time to toss them. Toy storage can be fun and functional: with some splashes of color and a few accessories, a simple storage bin can be a playful train caboose. From Waking from a Nightmare, Living a Dream Go through your electronic equipment and keep only those items that represent the most up-to-date technology. You can create a new feeling in a room by covering a mirrored wall with fabric or a textured item like bamboo. Mid-century homes often contain closet build-ins like shoe racks. They can be repurposed for use as magazine racks or tie holders. Magazines are meant to be read. If you haven't looked at yours in more than six months, it's time to let them go. From Paper-palooza Organize your papers and receipts; you'll find that you end up keeping only what's necessary and you save yourself the mess of having extra paper around. You can create mystery and romance in your bedroom by hanging a simple and inexpensive canopy of wood and fabric over your bed. Paint a series of colors around a room to create a dynamic Mondrian effect. And don't feel like each wall has to be its own color; you can pick up a new color in the middle of a wall and wrap it around a corner. Think outside the wall! class="primeColor"> Check out the "bones" of your old furniture. Instead of replacing functional pieces, give them a facelift with color and hardware and use them. If a room has two focal points, make them both accessible by placing swivel chairs in between them. class="primeColor"> Never keep more than two back issues of any magazine. From Jonesing for Organization If you collect gifts, remember to give them. Purge your gift box every three months and unload the items you haven't been able to give away. Stuffed animals from childhood take up space and can be dirty. If you're just hanging onto them for sentimental reasons, give them to charity so that a new generation of children can enjoy them. If you have a lot of family photographs, get rid of the negatives and just keep the photos you intend to use. Scrapbooking is a rewarding hobby, but it can take up a lot of space. Be sure to organize your scrapbooking supplies in an area where they can be easily used. Excess supplies should be tossed or given away. The fabric from a sentimental item like your grandmother's old handbag can find new life as a scrapbook cover. Don't just save sentimental items, repurpose them so you can enjoy them all the time. From Ready? Set? Purge! Provocative art photos of Marilyn Monroe are best suited for an adult space, like the garage or study. Make a kid's closet kid-friendly by placing hanging clothing at the child's level and making the items he uses every day accessible. You can double or even triple storage space above a built-in credenza by adding floating shelving above it. A child's room can be fun and functional if you include a bunk bed with desk space below in the design. Frame round mirrors with inexpensive bike tires for an cool look in a kid's room.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12

Pictures: DCI |

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

HowStuffWorks | TreeHugger | Petfinder | PetVideo | Discovery Education

Visit the Discovery Store: Toys & Games | Telescopes | DVD Sets | Planet Earth DVD | Gift Ideas

By visiting this site, you agree to the terms and conditions
of our Visitor Agreement. Please read. Privacy Policy.
ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of September 10, 2008.
To see the new policy, click here. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.

Copyright © 2009 Discovery Communications, LLC.

The leading global real-world media and entertainment company.