And you want to enjoy the time as well, so trying for a complete home renovation is probably not the way to go. However, there are a few things you can do that will enhance the experience of being the “hostess with the mostess” without breaking the bank.

Planning Ahead

With scheduled visits you have the luxury of time to plan ahead. Map out a schedule of tasks that will bring you to the day of guest arrival without going crazy. Don’t put everything off until the last minute; do as much as you can in advance.

• Tackle any deep cleaning like a Swiffer sweep of walls to catch dust or cobwebs
• De-clutter your porch and entryway; replace any burned out lights
• Get out any holiday dishes you’ll need and have them washed and ready
• Do your holiday/seasonal decorating early and pack away the storage boxes
• Do some menu planning and be sure you stock your kitchen with what you’ll need
• Have snacks and drinks to accommodate your guests’ tastes—coffee or tea, sweetener or sugar?
• Add a night-lite or two for safe trips to the bathroom at midnight
• Inventory bed linens and towels to ensure you have enough to accommodate everyone
• Figure out sleeping arrangements if the visit requires some shifting (i.e., grandparents in the kids’ rooms, get air mattresses for the cousins)
• If you have pets, bathe them and clean their sleeping areas
• Clear your yard of any unnecessary items or dead plants
• If the season permits, clean patio furniture and have it ready for use

The more you can do in advance, the less stress you’ll have when your guests actually arrive. You want to be able to spend the time with them, not spend time continually fussing and worrying.

Creating a Gracious Guest Room

The guest room is the designated space for your visitor’s use and comfort. Making that space as inviting as possible will add to the enjoyment of their visit. Whether you have a specific guest room or a room that doubles as an office or other-use room, here are some things you can do to make the guest room (or area) comfortable and welcoming.

De-clutter the area.

• If this room is generally used as a catch-all, clear it out for the visit. If it’s a dual-purpose room, store away the everyday “stuff” that fills the space, freeing up furniture surfaces and the floor so your guest will have usable space.

Have sufficient closet and drawer space.

• Make sure there is enough closet and drawer space so your guest doesn’t have to live out of their suitcase, and show them the space that is available for their use. A dozen assorted hangers in the closet should take care of any hanging needs, and dresser drawers or closet hanging cubbies can hold folded items. Free up closet space for their empty suitcase and shoes.

Provide a seating/reading area.

• Many people travel with their laptops, notebooks or kindles, so a comfortable reading space will be appreciated. A chair, desk and a strong reading light invite leisurely relaxation for time alone or winding down before bed. You may want to place books or magazines that you know your guest will enjoy on the night stand, along with some reading glasses—just in case.

Ensure adequate lighting.

• Along with a reading lamp, a bedside table lamp that can be turned off from bed is a good idea so your guest won’t have to maneuver in the dark after turning off a light switch. A night light in the room or bathroom is helpful in unfamiliar surroundings, especially if the bathroom is down the hall. Supplement natural light with enough lamps to brighten the room, one overhead light is usually not enough.

Use nice linens.

• To help your guests get a good night’s sleep, clean, fresh bed linens and pillows are essential. Providing both soft and firm pillows allows your guest to choose which they prefer. Make the bed up just before the visit; don’t have sheets that have been on the bed for months. Provide extra blankets for layering and a lap robe or throw to wrap up in when reading.

Have extra toiletries.

• Be sure the bathroom is stocked with extra toilet paper and tissues. You can also create a welcome basket with toiletries like shampoo, soap, new toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine products, shaving cream, a razor—things they might have forgotten. If they’re sharing a bathroom, this welcome basket can be in the guest room along with their towels and wash cloths so there’s no question that these items are for their use.

Additional thoughtful touches.

• Reflect on what you like in your own room, and add that little something extra to make your guest room feel like home.
  • • Holiday/seasonal decoration in the room
    • Fresh flowers
    • Scented candle
    • Alarm clock
    • Small TV, radio or CD player and selection of music
    • Standing mirror and/or makeup (magnifying) mirror

Extra special touches. Goodie basket with bottled water and favorite snacks in the room.

If you need help getting ready for the holidays, Closets by Design can help you get the most out of your space by maximizing utility and storage. Our talented designers are expert at planning dual-purpose rooms, custom closets, highly functional kitchens, pantries and utility/laundry rooms to make your life easier.

Just go online to www.closetsbydesign.com to visit our virtual showrooms, or call 1-888-500-9215 to find the designer nearest you and schedule a free, in-home consultation. Plan now to make the holidays more enjoyable and stress free for you, your family and invited (or surprise) guests.

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What’s the best way to protect the patio furniture and barbecue grill?

Where is all this pool stuff going to go and how do I best winterize my pool?

The magnitude of the task depends on your lifestyle and what part of the country you live in. How much needs to be stored and how severe the weather is in the coming months are primary considerations for storage solutions.

Outdoor furniture

Patio furniture is a big part of summer and can be a big investment as well. Protecting it year to year is important. Outdoor furniture could be plastic, wood, wrought iron, wicker or a combination of styles, often with fabric or canvas cushions, hangings and umbrellas. The best way to protect your furniture is inside storage such as a garage or shed to combat moisture and insects.

• Be sure that all furniture is clean and dry before you store it
• A thin coat of car wax will protect aluminum or plastic pieces
• A coating of paste wax will keep wicker furniture from drying out
• Remove rust from any metal pieces and spray with a silicone sealant
• Fabric pieces such as cushions and umbrellas should be thoroughly cleaned and dried and covered with protective plastic or fabric bags for added protection. Dryer sheets or cloves in the bags will deter musty smells and bugs. Avoid the fright of opening the umbrella next spring and having spiders fall out!
• If your barbecue grill is stored indoors, disconnect the gas tank and store the tank outside for safety reasons.

If your furniture remains outside, you can still take protective measures to keep it in good shape.

• Use heavy-duty covers designed specifically for different types of outdoor furniture. Covers for tables, chairs, stacking chairs or small tables, umbrellas, fire pits and barbecues are available from many sources.
• Secure covers with tie downs and weights (flower pots or bricks) to avoid them blowing off.
• “Tenting” the covers with a flower pot underneath will provide a watershed for flat surfaces so rain doesn’t collect in puddles.
• Storage benches and deck boxes come in various sizes to accommodate smaller items like cushions and prevent moisture and insect damage.

Pool accessories

Pool accessories should be sorted, cleaned and dried before storage. Discard any worn towels or damaged toys, blow-up rings and floats that won’t be usable next year.

• Storage benches and deck boxes provide protective outside storage
• Place towels into plastic bags with dryer sheets or cloves to keep fresh
• Garage wall storage with hooks and shelves can keep pool toys and accessories up off the floor
• An outdoor shed can hold furniture, pool accessories and lots more

Sports equipment

Equipment such as bicycles, skateboards and scooters may or may not need to be put away, depending on the weather. If these items need storage, a garage or shed provides the best protection.

• Wall hooks or bike racks in the garage or shed will free up floor space
• Clean and lubricate all equipment to avoid rust
• If left outside, a sheltered area with protective covers will suffice

Garden/yard implements

As with the sports equipment, you need to store whatever will not be used in the coming months. Gardening implements available for spring and summer use can now be cleaned and put away.

• Rakes, shovels, trowels and other equipment can be hung on peg board in the garage or shed
• Lawn mower should be cleaned and covered to protect from moisture
• An outside potting bench can be protected with a heavy-duty plastic cover
• Turn empty pots upside down to avoid collecting water/snow
• Fertilizers, weed killer, insecticides, etc. should be stored to maintain potency

Summer wardrobes

Unless your closet is large enough to accommodate everything you wear all year long, you’ll need some storage options as the seasons change. But switching out seasonal clothing doesn’t have to be difficult. (If you also change bed linens and decorative pillows, these same options apply.)

• Use storage bins or boxes to alternate winter and summer clothes storage
• Move off-season bins to the top of your closet, keeping in-season clothes readily available
• To avoid mildew and damage from food and stains, only store clean and dry items
• Designate a “seasonal closet” for all family members to use for alternating seasonal wardrobes (coats, jackets, scarves and gloves in for summer and out for winter)
• Under bed storage is a good way to safely store seasonal items and clothing in individual rooms
• Rolling racks with garment bags to protect clothing and linens can be used in the garage, basement or attic if in-house space doesn’t permit storage

If you want to maximize your storage needs all year long, Closets by Design can help you design solutions for every room in your house. And don’t overlook the garage; designing for specific storage will expand the space beyond your wildest dreams!

Go online at www.closetsbydesign.com or call 1-888-500-9215 today to find a designer near you. Our free, in-home consultation will show you how to get the absolute most storage out of your living space.

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• Where is your backpack, it’s time to go!
• I can’t find my other shoe.
• Mom, she’s wearing my shirt!
• I missed the bus; can you drive me to school?
• My book report was right here last night…

With work, school and bus schedules, mornings can become hectic. Implementing some organization will help both you and your kids start the day on time, feeling prepared and confident.

Designing a Kid-friendly Bedroom

A kid-friendly room will make mornings go more smoothly when your kids are able to easily find everything they need to get ready for school. Two important considerations in designing a child’s room are age and whether or not it’s a shared room. Storage demands will certainly increase if more than one child is in the room, but the basic needs of a school-aged child’s room include:

• Place for backpacks, books and supplies
• A place to do homework
• Clothes storage such as a dresser and/or closet
• Space for toys, games, treasures, and sports equipment
• Possibly a pet cage or aquarium

Maximizing the room space goes hand in hand with closet design, since the more items that can be in the room on book shelves, in cabinets or drawers, in under-bed storage, stacking bins or trunks impacts what will need to be in the closet.

The bottom line is that you want everything accessible and organized for ease of use.

Tackling the Closet

An organized closet is the best way to speed up getting dressed in the morning. Most closets become a catch-all for clothes, toys, books, etc., so the first step to getting organized is to empty the closet. Discard clothes, shoes or uniforms that don’t fit or are never worn. Get rid of whatever is in the closet that could be somewhere else such as sports equipment to the garage, or toys and games to shelves in the bedroom. Design around only what needs to be in the closet and be realistic about how much the closet can hold. Here are some tips for organizing a kid’s closet for greatest utility:

• Install two-tier rods for more hanging space
• Separate school clothes by section or with color-coded hangers
• If a shared closet, each child can have their own hanger colors
• Open shelves are good for folded items like tee shirts and jeans, or shoes and purses
• Use labeled bins to hold smaller items like underwear, pajamas and socks
• Vertical shelves maximize space and less used/seasonal items can be stored up high
• Place shelving in the middle of a shared closet to give each child their own side for hanging
• Have a laundry bin in the closet to keep clothes off the floor
• Have hooks for “quick grab” items like jackets, pajamas and tomorrow’s outfit
• Over-the-door shoe hangers can provide pockets for shoes, jewelry or hair accessories

The Homework Headache

Homework is never a favorite with kids or parents, and it can become a source of tension in the home. Having a designated homework space reduces stress and encourages your child to focus on the task. Whether it’s a desk in their bedroom, or a counter top or table in the kitchen or family room, this space should be optimized for getting homework done as painlessly as possible.

• Quiet or low-traffic area to eliminate distractions
• Clutter-free, ample work space
• Comfortable chair or stool with proper height work area
• Sufficient lighting to avoid eyestrain and minimize computer screen glare
• Available supplies (paper, pens, ruler, scissors, glue) to facilitate getting homework done

Depending on the setup, this space could also double as storage for backpacks, books and other school necessities so they don’t get lost throughout the house. Eliminate the morning trauma of missing homework or misplaced permission slips.

Closets by Design can Maximize Your Space

If you need help getting your family organized for back to school success, Closets by Design will be happy to help. We are the experts at maximizing space and streamlining organizational processes. For everything from closet design to setting up a homework station, our talented designers can work with you to discover the best use of your space to meet the individual needs of your family.

Call 1-888-500-9215 or go online today at www.closetsbydesign.com to find a designer near you and schedule a free, in-home consultation and start getting organized!

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Personalized Design Considerations

While your lifestyle will dictate what is in your closet, e.g., business suits, workout gear, and casual or formal wear, you have options for how to manage your wardrobe and design your closet. For instance:

• Shoes and boots: shelves, hanging bags, marked boxes or a shoe wall/shelves
• Folded sweaters/shirts/jeans: Shelves for stacking or pull-out drawers
• Pants: Fold-over hangers or full-length hangers
• Purses and hats: Stacking shelves or wall hooks
• Hangers: Color coded and space saving
• Individual garment bags or space bags for storage
• Accessory drawers for scarves, gloves, jewelry, sunglasses
• Belt and tie hangers
• Foot stool or ladder to reach high shelves
• One or two-tiered garment rods, valet rods
• Standing or tilt-out hampers
• Additional lighting

If you have a large walk-in closet or entire room, you may even consider the options of an island containing shelves or drawers, a storage bench or ottoman, dressing table, boudoir chair, full-length mirror, glass display cases, fancy chandelier, luggage storage, pullout packing table, wall-mounted or pullout ironing board, or a security drawer for valuables (check out the closets of the rich and famous!).

As you can see, there are many options to discuss with a design expert to help you achieve the most perfectly matched closet features specifically suited to you.

From Dream Design to Closet Completion

The time you spend with your Closets by Design consultant is the first step toward relieving the stress of closet and storage chaos. Complete organizational relief is in sight!

Once the design is finalized and all measurements are confirmed, your custom closet is built in our own state-of-the-art factory to ensure highest quality construction and best value. Each unit is built to your specifications and a Closets by Design installation team will install the units quickly and professionally.

All installers are bonded, licensed and insured employees of Closets by Design; we never send contract labor to your home. Most installations take just one day and can be accomplished within 7-10 days after final design agreement.

Don’t wait any longer to get organized! It’s as easy as a phone call. We also design storage systems for garage, home office, kitchen pantry, laundry, utility and hobby rooms and more.

Call 1-888-500-9215 to set up your free, in-home consultation or use the online form at http://closetsbydesign.com/ScheduleRequests.

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1. Reclaim the garage floor – The trick is to use the space on the garage walls to your advantage.  Toys such as golf clubs, tennis rackets and skates can be stored along the walls while bikes can be hung on hooks from the ceiling.  Rakes, shovels and other yard supplies can also be easily be organized on an interior wall.  Using this space wisely will not only help you to increase your storage space but make items easily accessible.
2. Cut the clutter – It’s amazing how many “things” you acquire over the years, and finding a place for each one is not always possible, or necessary.  It’s important to discard items you no longer want or need.  Sort through all of your tools and home maintenance supplies, and separate items into those you can sell, donate, throw away or recycle. A good rule of thumb is; if you haven’t used it in a year, you can probably get rid of it.
3. Sort and label – It’s not enough to simply get organized.  The real test is to stayorganized.  Labeling boxes and containers eliminates the frustration of rummaging through all of your belongings to find one specific item.  Put similar items into categories (i.e. tools, holiday decorations, etc.) so you will be able to maintain an efficient organizational system.
4. Safety first – Since you’re already sorting items, be sure to keep potentially hazardous chemicals together and locked.  It’s best to use a lockable tool chest or cabinet for extra caution. Also, make sure that any power tools with an on/off switch are stored securely out of children’s reach.
5. Increase storage with sturdy cabinets and shelving –Because paint cans, tools and other bulky items will be stored in the garage, it’s important that cabinet and shelving is sturdy enough to support the extra weight.  Not all cabinets are built the same and it’s important that you understand the construction behind your cabinet and the weight limitations.  A proper storage solution can organize your items and keep them out of site.  An important note when purchasing garage cabinets – make sure the doors will open when your car is parked in the garage.

About Closets by Design
Since 1982, Closets by Design has built a reputation as the nation’s leader in the closet organizing and storage remodeling industry. The company offers customers comprehensive solutions to all their organizational needs in a short and simple process by designing, building and installing custom home offices, closets, garage cabinets, wall units, laundries, pantries, wardrobe mirror doors and other home organization systems. Closets by Design offers a wide selection of finishes, accessories and hardware. There are currently 33 franchise locations serving major markets across the country. To schedule a FREE in-home consultation or inquire about franchise opportunities, please visit www.closetsbydesign.com or call 800-293-3744.

Media Contact/Photo Requests
Monica Rutkowski
847.945.1300 ext. 235
mrutkowski@fishmanpr.com

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