Furniture for Small Spaces » Living in Small Spaces

Alternatives: Decorating Your Fridge with Matboard

ttnorris — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:49:19 +0000

Okay, so in my last video clip I talked about putting matboard up. For me, matboard is an alternative to refrigerator frames with magnets. I thought it was a better option to tape the matboard on my fridge to highlight memories or just showcase pictures that will accent my kitchen.

FYI… I got the matboard at Hobby Lobby for half off. About $.78/ea. after the discount, if I recall.

I just worked with arranging the matboard on my fridge the other day and I think I’ve got the look I want. I’m still not sure just yet, but here’s the arrangement that I’ve got at the moment (see above photo).

I keep thinking maybe I should remove the two frames with the oval shapes in the center. I’m not sure if they’re too much. Maybe less is more in this situation or I need to add other types of decoration in their place. I have to admit… something’s bothering me about the arrangement. Maybe I’m being silly, but we’ll see.

Anyway, I haven’t printed any photos yet. Right now I’m just working with the look and feel and once I’m sure how I like how they’re arranged I’ll put up photos of friends and family or print off some great photos I like from the web.

This is just to tease you for the time being and give you an idea of where it’s all going. More coming shortly….

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Alternatives: On/Off Switch Solution for Unreachable Items

ttnorris — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:00:22 +0000

Okay, so I purchased two Walmart lamps and placed them on my shelving in my living room. The problem isn’t with the lamp on the first shelf, but rather with the one on the top shelf. I can’t reach it and I’ll be darned if I’m going to climb up and down on a step ladder every single day to turn it off.

And I don’t want to flip the switch on the surge protector to turn it off because it turns everything off (i.e. tv, dvd player, etc.). Also, I hate the idea of pulling the plug out of the surge protector every time I want to turn the lamp off.

So I started thinking about other options and a moment later it hit me… the track lighting in my room came with a cord switch. Why not get one of those for my lamp?

So I just ordered one.

Note: You might like this one if you don’t like the one I ordered

It’s pretty simple to use, but it will only work for you if your item is plugged into a reachable outlet. Remember, you have to be able to reach the switch otherwise using it is pointless.

So how does it work?

Simply plug the lamp cord into the cord switch, then plug the cord switch into an outlet or surge protector and flip the button on the cord on and off as needed. No more unplugging cords and no need to climb up and down to get to the on and off switch on the lamp, etc.

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Alternatives: Closet Rod Paper Towel Holder

ttnorris — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:34:29 +0000

Closet Rod Paper Towel Holder

If you have a small storage closet (or coat closet) and the room to spare, you can use the clothes rod as a paper towel holder. My closet rod is expandable so it was simple enough for me to pull it away from the wall.

All I had to do was lift up on the side and push in on it in order to adjust it to the size I needed so I would have room to put my paper towel on the rod, then I extended the rod back out and latched it back onto the hook on the wall.

I was able to fit 3 paper towels on the rod.

I’ll be using this closet to store a few cleaning supplies but mainly it will serve as a dog room for my dog Val.

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Alternatives: Relocating? Cut Your Moving Time in Half

ttnorris — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:00:54 +0000

If you’re moving and you want to cut down on time, use grocery bags instead of boxes. This will cut your moving time in half because you will be able to carry more bags in your hands than boxes. Not only that, you can fit more bags into confined spaces (i.e. car) as opposed to boxes since they shift around better. This tip works wonders and you’ll be shocked at how much time you saved.

I can personally vouch for this since I’ve done it (during two moves). On my first move I ran out of boxes, so I supplemented them with grocery bags. It was then during my move I realized it was a blessing in disguise. That I’d moved almost all of my stuff in half the time it would’ve normally taken.

Since then I’ve never returned to boxes during a move–except for when they were absolutely necessary.

My sister and mother also agree. After I suggested they do the same when they moved, they were shocked at how much faster they were able to move things to their new place.

So, give it a try and if you like it, stick with it. If you don’t… well, you tried and that’s the best that anyone can do for themselves. Remember, during your move, it doesn’t mean you have to omit moving with boxes all together. Just use them only when absolutely necessary and commit to using bags for the majority of your items.

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Build Your Own Under Stairs Storage Cabinets

ttnorris — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:30:48 +0000

Under Stairs Storage Cabinets

Have you ever thought how much space is wasted under the staircases? The under stairs storage cabinets allow you to reclaim all this wasted space and use it to store anything you want; there is no better location to have built in storage shelves, cabinets and drawers under the stairs.

These under stairs storage cabinets can roll and are easy to operate, as you simply pull them out and push them back based on your needs. They are designed to take advantage of every single inch of available space, creating storage room in an otherwise overlooked and awkward place.

The under stairs storage cabinets can be pulled out when you want to have access to the stored items; you will be surprised to see the amount of items that can fit under the stairs in your apartment, giving you a plausible solution to clutter and messy spaces. They can also add a neat look to an otherwise indifferent area of your house.

If you’re interested in building these space saving cabinets, you can get the woodworking plan for free at WorkBench Magazine.

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Cool Concepts: Convertible Space Saving Stairs

ttnorris — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:15:28 +0000

Stairs for Small Spaces

Stairs usually take a lot of ground space in our apartments but they are absolutely necessary; what if you could find wall stairs that would eliminate space needed? Wall stairs designed by Aaron Tang in the US, use simple mechanical hinges and pistons in order to fold up against the wall when you don’t need them, or when you want to restrict access to the upper floor. The wall stairs are conveniently designed in such a way that allows anyone to operate them, opening and closing them when needed.

When the wall stairs are closed they lie flat against the wall; if you want to open them you simply press a button and the hydraulic system pushes the stairs back to their initial position, allowing you to access the second floor. The stairs open with a soundless and gradual wave like pattern, and the steps seem to magically unfold while opening.

The Wall Stairs by Aaron Tang are a convenient, flexible and practical solution for any small space, in a house, apartment or office. Check out the Aaron Tang website to find out more about this cool concept.

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Cool Concepts: Cardboard Chair That Turns into a Chaise-Bed

ttnorris — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:39:11 +0000

The Echochair was designed by 6 Architecture and Design students at Aalborg University in Denmark. It’s made out of recycled corrugated cardboard and cotton. And what makes it truly amazing is that it can turn from a chair into a chaise-like bed. In short, it expands. Pretty cool, huh? You can get a closer look at it through the video clip below.

If you love the idea , you can check out their photo gallery on their website, Ecochair. The Echochair is currently not on the market yet. However, if you consider yourself a potential consumer you can contact them at info@ecochair.dk to stay up to date on when it will go in production and be available for sale.

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Alternatives: How to Make Cardboard Furniture

ttnorris — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:11:52 +0000

If you’re broke right now but in desperate need of some furniture, you can make your own. The instructable below offers you great insight on how to do so. And since you can create virtually any design from cardboard, you can also come up with your own space saving cardboard furniture.

This is also a complimentary video to the instructable (below). You can see the actual process of how you create a central frame and the support pieces that result in the initial shape of the furniture you’re trying to make.

The cardboard along the outside is then bent to create curves, pieces are glued on, thereby resembling real pieces of furniture that are made of solid wood or wood composites. Later you add color and the finishing touches and voila, you’ve got an awesome piece of furniture made of cardboard.

Note, the clip above was taken from a DVD demonstration by Eric Guiomar. If, after seeing the clip, you’d like the DVD for yourself, you can get it from VineStreetWorks through this page.

Consider checking out this other video clip for additional help, but note it’s in french. However, you can still learn from looking. You don’t necessarily have to understand what she’s saying.

Also you can look at beautiful pieces of furniture made with cardboard here (english translation through BabelFish). It’s done using the same method which is called the Schmulb method.

If after checking everything out, you want to try your hand at making cardboard furniture (and you can’t afford to buy cardboard) free cardboard is available at places like Wal-mart. Call (Wal-mart, etc.) and request info on how you can have them hold cardboard for you so you can come and pick it up.

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Cool Concepts: Furniture in a Box

ttnorris — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:42 +0000

Casulo is still on the drawing board – so far, there is a prototype but that is as far as the project has reached at present. Despite this, the innovative Casulo design has already won an award from the Abraham and David Roentgen Foundation, based on its innovative design and concept. A further recognition was awarded by the Lucky Strike Junior Design Award in 2008.

Casulo is the brainchild of two students from the KÃ¶ln International School of Design in Cologne who developed the concept of the Casulo mobile living unit as their dissertation project in June 2007. Professor Axel Kufus, of the University of Arts in Berlin judged the Casulo project and was impressed by the students’ idea. Casulo is now protected by the Gebrauchsmuster patent.

This doesn’t explain what Casulo is, however. OK, well, think ‘pallet’. In fact, think of a pallet measuring just 80cm x 120cm. Then think of flat-packed furniture – enough to furnish all your requirements for everyday living. That is where the similarity ends.

Casulo is a full set of furniture which can be assembled within ten minutes without the need for tools and equally quickly dis-assembled and packed up like an ordinary Euro pallet of the size mentioned above. A particular feature of the Casulo concept is its strength, requiring no additional packaging for when it needs to be transported.

Another feature is that it can be easily manoeuvred by two people and fulfils the requirements of the 21st century move-around society – put it on the roof rack of the family car: that, in a nutshell, is the idea behind Casulo. Visit the site to find out more about Casulo.

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Cool Concepts: Creative Storage Solutions

ttnorris — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:30 +0000

Creative Wall Solutions

If it’s strength and stability you are looking for and a design with clean simple lines, look no further than the Hidden Connector System, a patented concept introduced in 1994 by the company, Creative Connectors.

This company is a thriving Canadian company based in Vernon, British Columbia. It is owned by Lyle Enns who, apart from being CEO, was responsible for inventing the ingenious shelving products which have made the company the flourishing business it is today and leader within the world of decorative shelving.

Creative Connectors authentic hidden shelving system has been designed to fulfil the decorating tastes of the North American market and proudly claims its position as being one of the foremost wall-mounted decorative shelving manufacturers within Canada. The quality shelving products feature a unique joinery process whose quality has been recognised by being awarded the highest patent standard due to the dependability of its quality control team.

The highly motivated team of 31 production workers consistently achieve innumerable product awards, from Canadian Home Centre Show awarding Creative Connectors ‘best new product’ for its shelf brackets to the award offered by Western Hardware and Building Products Show for Creative Connectors corner shelves.

The company have even achieved the National Hardware Show’s AMHA Packaging Award. Those are some impressive accolades for a company only about 15 years’ old. Visit Creative Connectors to check out their product line and find out where you can shop for some of their products.

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