Clever Solution for Small Spaces 2014 Ideas

Don't let your home's little footprint define it; learn how to do more with less! Maximize the tiniest of rooms with these smart decor choices and small space solutions.
These rooms show you that small spaces can be super efficient without sacrificing style. 

I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you ...... Enjoy it !!

Tiny rooms need to be deft multitaskers, so this living room features a long sofa that moonlights as a guest bed. And the ottoman gets a helping hand from a tray, allowing it to double as a coffee table.

With its pale walls and light furnishings, this neutral oasis was the perfect candidate for a color transformation. A few bold pillows, a rug, a throw, and DIY artwork turn up the heat in this compact living space with little effort.

Trading dark upper cabinets for a sparkling wall of vintage look tiles turned this kitchen luminous. Open stainless steel shelves let the tile backdrop take center stage while keeping dishes within reach.

Integrating a recessed daybed into this room's design maximized limited floor space and eliminated the need to buy additional furniture. Cushions and pillows covered with plush fabrics make this alcove cushy and inviting, and overhead lighting offers illumination.

Don't let a tight space cramp your style choices. Instead, look for furniture that can pull double duty. A secretary offers storage and workspace in this small living room, yet neatly tucks away when it's not in use.

Hang an oversize mirror in a dining area to make the room appear larger than it is. Position the mirror opposite a bank of windows to maximize the amount of natural light reflected throughout the space.

An open vanity in this long, narrow bathroom keeps the space airy but doesn't allow for storage. A bumped out ledge and shelving along a nearby wall offers space for bathroom necessities and display items.

Restore order in a playroom with simple strategies to keep toys off the floor but in plain sight. Matching baskets beneath a tiered coffee table satisfy both kids and parents by combining storage and decor in one convenient location.

Clever Solution for Fix the Most Annoying Home Problems : Fast and Easy

If you had a handyman for a day, what would you have repaired? That's what we asked our Facebook fans, and here are 18 solutions to their most common problems.

Is there any way to make my whole house smell fresh without cleaning it from top to bottom? 
Solution: Sprinkle a few drops of vanilla extract onto your furnace filter. A drop of your favorite essential oil works, too.

I love my old wood floors but hate the squeaks. 
Solution: For a quick fix, sweep talcum powder into the joints of the floorboards that are rubbing against each other. If that doesn't work, you'll need to secure the floorboards to the subfloor. It's easier than you think.

Please fix my running toilet. 
Solution: With a little toilet troubleshooting you can probably fix it yourself. An old rubber flapper the part that seals out water is the most common cause. To make sure, put a couple of drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 5 minutes. If the water in the bowl changes color, it’s your flapper. First rule out the flapper chain. Make sure it’s not too short (the flapper can’t close) or too long (the chain gets caught). If the chain is fine, you need a new flapper. Turn off the water supply, drain the tank, disconnect the chain, and remove. Take the old flapper with you to the store to make sure you get the right replacement.

My double-pane windows always get foggy. What can I do? 
Solution: Sorry, there’s no quick fix for this one. It happens because the original windows weren’t vacuum sealed properly, and moisture isn’t able to wick to the outside. Your best bet is to replace the glass not the entire window. Many local glass companies will remove and replace the glass for a reasonable cost.

I need help hanging pictures and artwork, but first I need to patch the holes from my previous attempts. 
Solution: To patch tiny holes, you'll need a putty knife and patching plaster. If you plan to repaint, look for a plaster and primer in one, like 3M Patch Plus Primer. The first rule when hanging pictures: Don't eyeball it. If you're going to hang multiple pictures, use newspaper to create true-to-size templates of your frames that you can arrange on the wall using painter's tape. Finally, don't align pictures with the ceiling or floor -- they might not be level. Instead, use a level to draw a faint line a few inches down from the ceiling and use that as your starting point.

My ex-boyfriend tried to fix my door, and now the screws are stripped! 
Solution: Stripped screws happen! An easy cure is to place a rubber band between the screw and the screwdriver. The rubber helps grip the stripped screw.

Is it possible to remove rust stains in a porcelain sink? 
Solution: Believe it or not, toothpaste might do the trick. Cover the stain with toothpaste and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with baking soda and rub it out with a clean, soft cloth.

There's a tiny tear in my window screen. Do I have to replace the whole screen? 
Solution: If it's a small tear (not a hole), clear fingernail polish will keep it closed.

What's the secret to a professional-looking caulk job? 
Solution: Like most housework, the secret to caulking is patience and dishwashing soap. Remove every trace of old caulk using a putty or utility knife. Clean thoroughly with denatured alcohol. Once the surface is clean and bone-dry, use painter's tape and tape off the gap, leaving 1⁄4 inch on either side. Squeeze an even bead of caulk along the gap, then use your finger to smooth out the caulk. Remove the tape. Wait for the caulk to skin over (a couple of minutes), then dip your finger in a solution of 1 part dishwashing soap and 1 part water for any final smoothing or shaping, just like the pros.

Is it possible to remove water marks from wood furniture? 
Solution: Cover the water mark with a dry cotton cloth and go over it with a medium-hot iron for several seconds. If that doesn't work, lightly wipe the mark with a cloth dampened with denatured alcohol.

I hate my popcorn ceiling. Is there an easy way to remove it? 
Solution: You're not alone. "How do I get rid of my popcorn ceiling?" is one of the most often heard questions at home improvement stores. The short answer: It's easy to remove a textured ceiling but super messy and tiresome. If your home was built before 1979, test it for asbestos. If asbestos is present, a professional can offer advice on whether to cover or remove it. If asbestos is not an issue, the basics are: Cover everything in plastic, soak small sections of the ceiling with a spray bottle of water, then scrape, scrape, scrape until it's gone.

My drain is clogged. 
Before you call the plumber, try one of these easy, chemical-free fixes.

Solution 1: Baking soda and vinegar. Pour 1⁄2 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 1⁄2 cup white vinegar. Let sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Repeat if necessary.

Solution 2: If you suspect grease is the culprit, pour 1 cup baking soda and 1⁄2 cup salt down the drain, followed by 2 cups boiling water.

Solution 3: Use a plunger to unclog the pipe. If it's in a sink, cover the overflow hole with a towel. Coat the lip of the plunger with petroleum jelly (for a better seal) and cover the entire drain opening with the plunger. If there isn't enough standing water to cover the rubber part of the plunger, add more. Plunge away. The back-and-forth movement of the water should loosen the clog.

Solution 4: Use a wire coat hanger. Unbend the hanger and form a small hook at the end. Snake it down the drain to break or push through the clog.

2014 Clever Furniture Arrangement Tips for Small Living Rooms

Make your small living room seem larger with these furniture arranging ideas and smart decorating tricks.

You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you .... Enjoy it !!!!

Choose Visually Lightweight Furniture : Pay attention to the visual weight of furniture, not just its actual size. Light color furniture or pieces with legs appear lighter than dark or boxy upholstered pieces. In this small living area, the leggy chair doesn't obstruct views of the passage or the floor, so the space feels more open. The metal and glass coffee table also consumes very little visual space.

Use Neutral Color Throughout : Using a neutral palette throughout a living room is one of the best ways to push back the walls. The eye can roam freely through a neutral palette, so the space feels more expansive.

Emphasize the Vertical : A room's space always includes more than just its horizontal dimensions. Invite the eye to move above and below eye level. In this living room, emphasis on the vertical comes by way of floor-to-ceiling draperies that hang just below the ceiling beams.

Use Small Scale Furniture : Choose furniture in a scale appropriate for the room and for the people who will use it. The sleek design and small scale of a Saarinen Tulip chair suits a small living room, as does the Parsons table. The armless chair is heftier, but its lines and shape won't make a small room feel crowded.

Play Up the Light : Take advantage of all available light to help enlarge the space. Use white or pale colors, which increase the brightness of a room by reflecting light. Keep window treatments simple and avoid blocking the windows with heavy layers of fabric.

Add Seating with a Window Seat : Turn a window niche into a mini living area with a window seat. Choose slender, leggy furniture for small spaces because they take up less visual space. The eye is fooled into thinking the space is larger because you can see under and through these pieces of furniture.

Add storage without eating up floor space by building shelves into the space between wall studs.

Enlarge Space with White : A small living room escapes feeling constrained thanks to white walls, pale floors, and white upholstery. The elements of the room are united by white, giving the space a cohesive feel.

Carve Out a Corner : In an open floor plan, stake out a section for the living room with two love seats, or one love seat and two chairs, a large coffee table, and a rug. In this space, the seating placement distinguishing a living space from the dining area beyond. Filling the floor space with a coffee table may seem counterintuitive, but using a few large pieces in a small space actually simplifies the room.

Use an Ottoman for a Coffee Table : A large upholstered ottoman doubles as a coffee table when you add trays to provide a flat surface for drink glasses or a vase of flowers.

Scale Furniture to the Space : In a small living room, a narrow bench serves as a convenient coffee table without taking up much space.

Build in Storage : Give a small space grand character and maximum function with a bank of cabinets. This unit incorporates concealed storage with open cubbies, which help the piece feel lighter in the room.

Create Clear Traffic Paths : Arrange furniture to direct traffic around the conversation core rather than through it. In this small living room, the sofa marks the beginning of the seating space. Traffic coming in from the door is directed to go on either side of the sofa, rather than directly through the conversation area.

Keep Colors Light and Soft : Pastel furnishings, white walls, and a light neutral area rug make this living room feel lighter and brighter and therefore larger. The chair offers comfortable seating, but exposed legs, they consume less visual space than a club chair would.

Clever Tips to Cut Kitchen Clutter 2014 Ideas

There’s so much you need to store in the kitchen. How do you fit it all in? Check out these solutions.

Explore the Kitchen 

You don’t need a big kitchen to store a lot of stuff. We took the floor plan of a modest-size space and marked the key storage features.

Open Shelves 

Open shelves near the sink and cooking area make everyday dishes and glasses easier to see and reach when serving meals, let you display favorite collectibles, and create some visual breathing room in a smaller kitchen.

Vertical Slots 

Cookie sheets and baking pans don’t fit well in standard cabinets or drawers. But next to your range, you can have a narrow, slotted cabinet that keeps these long, flat items close to where you’ll use them. Add a hook (#321371) for oven mitts and potholders.

Recycling Bins 

Meals generate a lot of recyclables, so the kitchen is a logical place to store them. This pullout turns standard cabinet space into a two-bin recycling center. It’s out of the way, yet close to the sink -- you can rinse out containers before tossing them in the bins.

Appliance Garage 

Free up counter space by storing your mixer, toaster, coffeemaker, or other small appliances in a built-in garage. This one has a lift-up door for easy access. You can also use the garage as a baking center or coffee station. Proximity to drawers and prep space makes this storage space extra convenient, as does an electrical outlet inside.

Cleanup Center 

Under the sink is a natural place to consolidate kitchen cleanup supplies. Paint a pail (#3712) and fill it with your most-used items to store everything in one spot. Mount a toilet paper holder (#321478) on the inside of the door to hang a towel.

Compact Island 

This compact island fits in a modest-size room, yet it offers the same kind of storage as bigger versions -- a swath of counter space on top, conventional cabinets below, and open shelving for displaying cookbooks and collectibles. You can even build it yourself.

Junk Drawer 

Practically every kitchen has some kind of junk drawer a place for all those miscellaneous little items that don’t seem to fit anywhere else. But even a junk drawer can be organized. This drawer’s two-level divider does the job, letting you sort items into categories and find what you’re looking for faster.

Mini Bar 

Storing wine and spirits in a glass-front pantry cabinet keeps your inventory easy to see and reach without taking up a lot of room. Choose a spot that’s close to where you’ll entertain guests. Include a rack (#367201) for wineglasses and a tray for serving.

Clever Storage Solutions for Small Bedrooms 2014 Ideas

Small bedrooms present decorating and storage challenges. Here are our smartest ways to store everything from shoes to jewelry in your short on space bedroom. you'll love these ideas to try in 2014! 

 I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you ...... Enjoy it !!

Bedside tables with shelves work best for storage purposes. This simple but hardworking nightstand offers a tabletop surface for a lamp and a collection of decorative elements, a drawer to corral smaller items, and a lower shelf that holds reading materials.

If you don't have the luxury of a bedside table, create a storage-packed floating shelf by installing a closet shelf upside down beside your bed. The small shelf takes up no floor space yet offers an ample surface for an alarm clock, reading material, and decorative accents.

When square footage is at a premium, this space-saving alternative to a bedside table is perfect for a bookworm. Cut a small section out of the wall between the studs, finish the opening with drywall or wood, and outfit it with shelves to store books and decorative elements. Hang a wall-mount lamp beside the bed for a well-lit reading nook.

Create unexpected yet convenient bedroom storage using objects usually reserved for the kitchen. Frame your bed with kitchen cabinet components to fashion a niche. Fill the upper cabinets and lower drawers with clothing or accessories. Top the upper drawer with a slab of wood to serve as a pull-out nightstand.

Narrow furnishings add a surprising amount of storage and display space in a limited footprint. This bedside console table offers plenty of surface area for showing off collectibles and other possessions. A lamp sheds light on the bed for reading after overhead lights are turned off.

Create a work of art while keeping your jewelry safe and tangle-free with this chic jewelry display. Purchase a plain picture frame and attach decorative hooks to the backing to create a place for favorite pieces. Place the frame on the top shelf of a tiny shelving system, and fill the rest of the shelves with pretty glassware to store small items, such as rings and earrings.

Put your jewelry to work as eye candy with this clever and decorative display. Use a store bought jewelry tree to corral earrings, bracelets, and necklaces on a dresser or tabletop. A napkin holder spray painted to match the jewelry tree creates the perfect resting place for a small clutch.

If your bedroom has less than standard height walls, don't despair. As this bedroom proves, you can stash a lot of stuff along a short wall and still add some decorative elements. A long, low built in offers ample surface storage, while drawers and open shelving below provide space to stow clothing, books, and more.

In a small bedroom, it's important to embrace every inch of square footage. Take a cue from this attic bedroom and tackle a corner oddity by incorporating a small built in bench. The bench makes use of potentially wasted space below a window to create a cozy reading nook.

Small bedrooms necessitate creative storage solutions. Make the most of your limited space with a storage laden headboard. This headboard features padded lift up panels that shield from view everything from extra blankets to cozy sweaters. Plus, when the panels are closed, the ledge on top of the headboard offers a place to set bedtime necessities and decorative items.

Creative storage solutions turn this charming bedroom into a calm and tidy haven. A low shelving unit stands in as a footboard and provides a spot to sit as well as stash stuff in closed drawers. A narrow wicker vanity along an empty wall offers storage space for beauty supplies, while a nearby basket holds seasonal accessories.

Decorative storage boxes are a pretty accent atop a dresser and also provide space to stow away those little items and keepsakes that are so easy to misplace. Stack various-size boxes to create visual interest.

Modular systems aren't reserved for spacious closets. This tiny yet tidy closet is organization central, decked out with useful modular closet components. A row of open shelves along one side houses bins filled with delicates, swimwear, and other small items. A closed upper cabinet and lower drawers offer space for bulky folded items. Clothing racks flanking the cabinet unit increase the storage capacity of the small closet.

Even if you don't have the luxury of a built-in closet, you can have the functionality of one. A freestanding closet system like this one allows you to dedicate a wall of your bedroom to efficient storage for clothing and accessories. Either leave the unit open to allow your wardrobe to take center stage, or cover the unit with fabric that coordinates with your bedroom decor.

Use a large basket or laundry hamper to corral shams and throw pillows at bedtime. When you go to crawl into bed, toss the pillows into the basket and drift off to sleep, knowing you won't trip over pillows in the morning. Plus, you can place extra blankets at the bottom of the basket.