Tips to Achieve Living Areas Worth Living in

It is well known that less clutter equals less stress. Being able to find things when we are looking for them, or when we need them is priceless. Not missing due dates for bills, homework or work is an added bonus of being organized. However, we also know that getting organized and staying organized requires time and a game plan. In our busy lives sometimes finding time to create and execute a plan is a struggle on its own.

That is why Professional Organizers, like myself take the time to help you with easy to follow tips on how to include and manage organization into your already busy lifestyle.

Living areas such as living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms and gathering places in general have their own challenges as these are places where family and friends tend to spend the most time, and sometimes they serve dual purpose as well. Finding places to stow and stash the bits and pieces of daily life in a room where so many activities take place can be difficult.

Family Rooms=they hardly need defining. It is that casual place where everyone hangs out. It serves so many purposes that creative storage is a must. Look outside of the box for ideas. Adjustable shelving, containers on casters, drawers and television bays competently organize the paraphernalia that tends to clutter family activity spaces.

Dining Rooms=more than any other room in the house, the dining room has fallen victim to lifestyle changes. Few home owners have space to spare, and what was once a room reserved for family suppers and formal dinners now doubles as a library, sewing studio, or homework headquarters. When the dining area has fuzzy boundaries such as breakfast nook or simply a table off the kitchen, efficient space planning and storage help to fully utilize it.

Shared Spaces=many modern homes combine kitchen, dining, living and entertaining functions in one big room that has no physical or visual barriers. In this open plan, activity zones and traffic patterns are organized merely by placement of furniture and area rugs.

Following are a few more organizing tips that might help you choose multipurpose furniture to aid you in your goal of becoming less stress and more organized.

1) Replace worn out game boxes with sturdy containers. Label the outside of the boxes. Stack them on a low shelf or inside a cabinet and or closet.

If you have extra drawers considering placing the games pieces in drawers dividers. Similar to those used in kitchen or offices.

2) Give each family a portable bin to hold toys, books, homework supplies, or other material. Use the bin to transport items from room to room. When you are done, put the items back in it then stow it in a cabinet or on a bookshelf.

3) Flat topped trunks work well as coffee tables, as end tables or even extra sitting. When outfitted inside with trays and baskets, they organize and contain photos, games, magazines and newspapers.

4) A coffee table placed in front of a sofa provides convenient space to rest books, magazines, drinks and snacks; drawers and baskets, coasters, cards, games.

5) An ottoman can be converted into a coffee table by placing a large wicker tray on top. Choose an ottoman that is an inch or two lower than the sofa and add casters for easy movement. Some ottomans open for extra storage.

6) When console and end tables are equipped with drawers and shelves, they become invaluable in gathering spaces. The slim profile of the console table enables it to be used almost anywhere storage is needed. Behind a couch, in front of a window, or against a wall. End tables do more than just hold lumps: They offer extra surfaces for glasses.

Fire Safety Tips for Children

Young children need to understand the key elements of fire safety as much as adults - in some ways more so. Many fires in the home occur at night while everyone is asleep. In these instances children may panic and if they are unaware of what to do have been known to try to hide under a bed or in a cupboard. Just about the worst place for them. When explaining fire safety it's important not to scare them, but it is information that could save their lives. For young children explaining the risk and what action to take can be incorporated into a 'fire drill game', an effective way to engage their attention without scaring them!

Important tips
 

• Make sure that children know to crawl below smoke - the biggest killer in fires.

• Teach them to check doors to see if they are hot before using metal door fittings and to use an alternative route if this is the case.

• Be clear where escape routes are and ensure they know to use them before looking for you.

• Never leave children, especially young children, alone in the kitchen where food is being cooked.

• Tell children how to get help by dialing 999 or raising the alarm with neighbours and explain that they must never re-enter a burning building, even if someone is missing.

Teaching self-reliance saves lives

Consider organising a 'play' fire drill involving neighbours and their children. Although it is not something any of us want to think about, never assume you will be in a position to save your own children in a house fire. It's important that children are taught early to be self-reliant in the event of a fire and to get out safely and stay out. Hopefully you and your family will never need to put into practice your fire safety skills, but if you do, preparation can make all the difference.

Other precautions

For adults there are some simple tasks that you can complete regularly to ensure that you minimise the risk of fire breaking out in the first place. Electrical appliances should be turned off overnight. Sockets should not be overloaded as they can easily over heat. Install smoke alarms if you don't already have them and check them once a month. Children can be included in this task which is a way to raise their awareness of fire safety without frightening them! Keep an eye on what they have plugged in, in their own rooms, and rectify any problems explaining why you are doing so.

Tips for Keeping Your Fireplace Safe

Fireplaces have long been both a practical and decorative home feature. Before the modern inventions of television and radio the fireplace served as a gathering place for families to share stories and stay warm on cold nights. The fireplace has had many evolutions during its creation centuries ago. Whether you live in a historic home with many elaborate wood burning fireplaces in every room or a small modern condo with a sleek gas burning unit it is important to be educated about fireplace safety. These beautiful accent features can turn deadly if they are not properly cared for. More than 36% of household fires are caused by creosote buildup or other fireplace mishaps that can be easily prevented.

The first step you can take toward keeping your family safe is to keep your fireplace clean and maintained. Scheduling an annual inspection of your chimney and fireplace is a good idea. Certified chimney specialists have the tools necessary to find, examine, and fix potential problems before they escalate. If you are designing a new fireplace you will want to choose fire resistant materials like concrete and stone to decorate walls and other surrounding areas. Also, keep the hearth clear of any flammable nick knacks or other potential fire hazards. Adding a decorative mesh screen can help contain burning embers from being blown into your room where they could be hazardous.

An out of control fire is very dangerous. When lighting a fire you should avoid using flammable liquids that can cause dangerous explosions. When you are building a fire in a wood burning fireplace the logs should be in the rear of the fireplace to keep the fire contained. Using dry hard wood will decrease the amount of build up in your chimney that can cause fires. Never leave a fire unattended, you should completely extinguish the fire in your fireplace before leaving the house.

Every house should have smoke alarms installed on every floor. Place alarms inside rooms where people will be sleeping and in hallways outside the doors of these rooms as well as in the kitchen and any room with a fireplace. You should test these alarms regularly, and change all of the batteries every 12 months. These alarms are the last line of defense to help you prevent a fire tragedy in your home.

There are also steps that can be taken outside your home to help make your fireplace safer. Many fires start in the chimney and can mover to the roof of your home. You should have a mesh screen to help prevent sparks from exiting your chimney. Keep your roof clear of all debris and check it regularly. On the roof all fireplace vents should extend no less than tree feet beyond roof height. Low hanging branches over these vents and other flues can cause unnecessary risk. Trimming these branches and also branches near your chimney will help protect your and your family.

Creating a Home That's Family Friendly

Even if you have young children, it is still easy to have a home which is tastefully decorated. Below are great tips to creating a child friendly environment without locking everything away inside your cabinets.

Existing With Toddlers

Lots of people believe that if they have toddlers, all things breakable have to be banished into the closet until it's safe to display them again, but this is not so. The only thing that you actually need to accomplish is to rearrange a few things - breakable knickknacks can be moved to a higher place such as a shelf or perhaps a piano top that is beyond the little one's reach. You can shift unbreakables, like silver, baskets, wooden boxes, and metal objects, on to any lower surfaces which are toddler height including lower shelves, coffee tables, and side tables.

Within a baby or toddler's bedroom, put soft toys and books on low shelves where they can be easily reached by your child, and display picture frames and breakable keepsakes on the top shelves, out of reach. Make sure that any furnishings that may potentially fall over are attached securely to your wall to ensure there will be no unfortunate accidents.

If you love cute picture frames, your child's room is an excellent place to display some, like sweet heart picture frames or cute flower frames.

As They Grow…

Baby rooms may easily be turned into a much more "grown-up" looking space with a few simple changes: Replace a rocking chair with a comfy upholstered one to read in.

Many changing tables are set atop a complete dresser; remove the changing table top and hang some wall shelves above and you'll get several more years out of the dresser.

Replace "baby" fabrics and also designs with a lot more mature ones like plaids or stripes that are in the same general color scheme so that they'll still complement the rest of the room (walls and floors).

When you're done with floor toys for the babies, a great replacement would be a set of sturdy chairs and a small table you can use for drawing, enjoying games, and having a "tea party." A young child always appreciates a place of their own where they can play with friends or play alone.

If your child's room has "baby" wallpaper, change it out with washable vinyl paper in a very light color that coordinates with any fabrics in the room.

Closed In Storage

When you've got kids, there never seems to be enough space for storage. One choice is to save out of season clothing in closed storage bins out of sight, a good location is on the top shelf of their closet.

Whether it's inside the child's room or another room of your house where your child plays, it's nice to have some open shelving for children to enjoy their toys and books, but it's also nice to keep a lot of them out from sight for a less cluttered look, and hopefully less overall mess. A trunk of some kind is desirable for many people, but be cautious with this particular choice since the lid might slam upon your son or daughter's little fingers. A less risky way to have closed storage is within cabinets that have sliding doors or doors and drawers that open out, or perhaps a mixture of both. It is possible to find such storage cabinets that can fit within a closet, too.

So, when you have a toddler in your home, don't despair. Try these tips and both you and your child can enjoy your home.

How To Explore Nature As a Family

Exploring nature can be a fantastic way to spend quality time together as a family. There are so many things to do and see outdoors that you have a practically endless number of activities you can participate in. Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, watching birds or gardening, nature really has something for everyone. If you would like to learn some wonderful ways to spend enjoyable time with your family, here are some nature exploration activities to do outdoors.

Visit Your Neighborhood Park

Regardless of where you reside, it is likely you have got a park close to your home. An afternoon at the park is usually a good way to have fun and enjoy nature simultaneously. Select a park which includes facilities you are aware all your family members will enjoy, like a walking trail, sports field or perhaps a nice picnic area. While you're at the park, make time to enjoy everything nature has to offer, like the beautiful fall leaves, the squirrels and birds, and even the ants that march across your picnic table in pursuit of your sandwich. Make sure you take your camera along so as to capture some great nature shots. It is very likely that you will have some photographs that will be absolutely perfect for placing in wood picture frames which can be used in room decoration.

Take Yourself on a Walk

Walking is among those exercises that just about everyone is able to enjoy. Look for interesting hiking trails that will appeal to everyone in your family. Make sure to choose a trail which is a good match for everyone. For instance, when you're pushing a young child inside a stroller, then choosing a hike over a path that goes uphill might pose too great a challenge. If you discover that your household really enjoys hiking, attempt to pick a different path every time in order to keep things interesting. Needless to say, even the same path can offer different experiences, depending on the season. When you get to the top of the hill, the view is going to be much different on a day that's snowy than on a lovely and crisp fall day. Taking a hike is also a wonderful way for everyone in the family to receive a bit more exercise and enjoy some fresh air.

Go to the Zoo

If it has been a while since your family has visited a zoo, perhaps it is time to plan a visit. Going to the zoo is often a very inexpensive outing, and it could be a lot of fun to view all the different kinds of animals. Needless to say, in addition to being an enjoyable experience, it can also be quite educational. Be sure that you remember to bring the digital camera with you in order to take plenty of pictures. Children often especially enjoy a trip to the zoo. If at all possible, allow them to take their very own cameras so that they can take photos of whatever interests them most. Once they get home, the kids can have a excellent time decorating their bedrooms with fun hanging picture frames that have photos of their favorite animals.

Now you have some fantastic ideas to do when you need to spend some quality time together as a family. Enjoy your loved ones at the same time that you are out enjoying nature!

Important Home Safety and Security Tips

Home burglaries are very common in almost every neighborhood. If you wish to spare your home from experiencing such a crime, you have to burglar-proof it. Here are tips that will help you secure your home.

Your home may be more secure if it is noisy and there are people in it. However, if you live alone or if your family has to be out of the house most of the time, you have to take certain alternative steps. You may leave some lights on. Remember to choose the lights that are energy efficient so that you won't have to pay too much on your electricity bills.

Sometimes, having the right kind of neighbor can be beneficial. A neighbor who cares about your family can help look after your home if you are not around.

You need to be observant of the happenings around you. You may notice suspicious cars parked across the street. You also need to be on the lookout for new people who are lurking around your neighborhood. Take note of what cars they drive, what the license plates are and how these people look like. These pieces of information may be essential to police officers when they need to get involved in the future.

You may feel more confident if you have the right self defense devices inside your home or inside your bag. Stun guns and similar devices can help you stop a home intruder or it may help you get away from an attacker on the streets.

When you need to be away for the weekend or for longer, inform your trusted neighbor. They need to know if you are expecting deliveries or people to come into your home or not. However, if you have to leave, it is wiser if you postpone any repairs or services in your home.

Leaving spare keys outside of your home might not be a good idea. With enough time, these keys might be located by any home thieves. Even if you always lock yourself out of your own home, you should not leave your keys under your mat or near a flower pot. You may leave an extra key with a family member who lives nearby, a next door neighbor whom you trust or with a close friend.

Having pets may also help keep your home secure. Dogs can be the best pets to have. They may be trained to bark and be alarmed when a stranger comes near to your home. Big dogs might also help scare burglars away.

As much as possible, never show off how much money or how many valuables you have inside your home. Burglars scout their targets and they will look for those homes that will them a lot of profit. If you have expensive items at home, make sure that they are secured inside locked doors or vaults. Better yet, avoid keeping them inside your home. A safety deposit box inside a bank may be the safest place where you can keep these particular items.

Simple Tips and Guide to Improving Your Home and Family Security

Many people do not put up a home security measure since they do not see the importance of having one. Maybe they have not yet experienced any break in incident, which makes them feel very confident and secure.

However, no one would wait for something to happen before taking any action. The possible losses from an intrusion are not limited to just your properties and valuables.

Worst case scenario, it could also mean an injury or potentially the loss of a life. Catching an intruder that is already inside the house or in the act of committing a crime can lead to a desperate situation. This could turn out nasty especially if the perpetrator is armed. If the intruder was prevented from ever entering your property, the chances of such an event from happening are close to nil.

Having an effective security system installed is far better than simply relying on a guard dog. You have many options at your disposal to protect the perimeter of your property and make it difficult for an intruder to get to your house unnoticed.

This can be complemented by an outdoor lighting system, security alarms and motion sensors that will stop any unauthorized entry on your house. Alarms and sensors installed to the doors and windows will warn you of an intrusion, in case your yard security has been compromised.

Inside your house, it is advisable for you to store any valuable items in a secure or locked location out of a potential intruder's sight. A safe or a lock box can provide you with greater protection and these are easily obtainable at reasonable prices.

If you tend to be away from your home for long period of time, you may want to look at setting up cameras both inside and outside your house. These cameras can be setup such that you can remotely monitored them from your office or even when you are away on holiday.

For those that do not have an idea of what a security system can do and how to set up one, there are security agencies and companies specializing for such concerns. They can provide you with an expert advice on how to have an effective security set up.

They can also direct you to various resources to have an array of security devices ideal for your particular location. Furthermore, you will not be tricked into buying overly advertised but ineffective security products that are scattered everywhere in the market nowadays.

A Few Tips To Help Keep Your Family Home Safe

What is the best home security option for your home and family? When you are assessing the current home security plan any and all corrective action you do to protect your home and family is a step closer to more secure home.

Some home security tips to begin thinking about are items that will detour or basically stop a potential intruder from coming into your residence. A home alarm system is always a terrific option to take into consideration with the rest of these tips.

The first thing you will want to do is examine your home from the outside. Make sure your home is well lit. Motion sensors are one way to go however a home with lightening that is substantial and always on. Another thing to look for his potential hiding spots close to all the doors and windows. If you spot an issue on the outside of your home than be for sure a burglar will take advantage of that.

A seasoned burglar looks for ways in to your home. Your job is to make sure that they are all well lit. Why? A well lit yard is a burglar's worst enemy, darkness is its friend.

It is important that you think of ways that you can slow a potential intruder's entrance into your home. Simple home security measures help along with the use of home alarm systems. The addition of deadbolts on the homes doors is an important step to take. Another element is to add a solid bracket inside of all door walls. These elements help to deter potential intruders and at the very least will slow them down. The more time it takes for them to enter the home the more discouraged they will become and since time is of the essence this is important.

Another element like light that acts is a deterrent is noise. Choosing a home security alarm that is activated by doors and windows opening or by any motion is effective. The alarms that are the most efficient at turning intruders away are loud noises such as a barking dog whether real or a recording is most effective.

The three most successful tips and biggest enemies to burglars are light, noise and time. If you put these home security tips into place you are helping to prevent any possible break-ins.

Here are a few other ways you can help yourself.

Don't display valuables in view of people on the outside. It is temptation to some people. Consider putting items of great value that are on the smaller side in a safe. Many safes can be made to look like common everyday items, these are called diversion safes.

Implore the people in your community to begin a neighborhood watch. Anyone who is a stranger will stick out like a sore thumb. With a neighborhood watch in place the police will be notified when someone suspicious is in the area.

Anytime you leave your home on an overnight trip or extended vacation make your home look occupied. Use lights on varied timers so that they all go off at different times each and every night. Televisions and radios can also be set on timers to make it appears as if you are home even when you are not.

Lock all doors and windows even when gone for brief periods of time. This is especially important during the summer. A huge temptation for thieves is open windows and garages.

A few simple changes can make a world of difference in making your home less intrusive. Begin with an assessment of your home. Create a well lit, secure home that detours intruders from making your belongings theirs.