Somewhere deep down inside, we would all love a home with a huge kitchen, three different pantries and an endless kitchen island. Who wouldn’t love a living room that can fit as many couches as it could beds? The reality is that we don’t all live in the same universe as the characters of Friends, especially today–more and more people are vying for apartments, and rent is increasing as a result. Space is limited–and valuable. Don’t think, however, that living in a small space means you have to suffer. There are some valuable things you can do to ensure that your home lacks none of the personality, comfort and enjoyment that you could similarly get with a larger space. No space? Make space! It’s been said thousands of times, but I’m going to reiterate it again: declutter, declutter, declutter. Have you ever heard of Andrew Hyde, the guy who reduced his possessions down to 15 items? Not only did he realize that he could live with a lot less, but he also learned that letting go of unnecessary physical possessions also relieved him of the emotional baggage he associated with them. You obviously don’t have to get that drastic, but …
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2012 is almost over, which means that you get to look forward to a new year full of success, failure, surprise and change. If you’re thinking about taking a big step in the new year, why not start with your home? Here are some ways to reinvigorate your home in 2013. Declutter and De-stress If your New Year’s resolutions include the world “organize,” “less stress,” or “clean,” it’s probably time to take a look at your living space. A clean workstation makes for more productivity and a clean home will make for a happier you, so declutter to reduce self-inflicted stress. If you’re worried about saying a permanent goodbye to your belongings, self-storage is one of the easiest ways to ameliorate the sweet sorrow of parting. Keep your prized possessions in a safe and convenient storage unit for as long as you want, while still enjoying newfound space and peace of mind. Out with the Old, In with the New Sometimes, all a room needs to come back to life is a new piece of furniture. You don’t have to go crazy with replacing old furniture, but chose one particular piece that has overstayed its welcome and get rid of …
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Decorating for the holidays can seem like a monumental task–how will you ever make your home as perfectly cozy as the ones in movies? Here are some ways to streamline the process and help you add a little holiday cheer to your home without going crazy. Make Space If you have relatives coming to stay, use an online self-storage finder to make extra space by putting unneeded furniture into storage. This will also allow you more room for holiday decorations. Additionally, consider your furniture arrangement–do you want the living room to appear large and spacious, or comforting and cozy? If your home is looking a little outdated, furniture rental could be a good solution. Find Inspiration Sites like Pinterest and Apartment Therapy offer a wealth of DIY how-to guides, especially for nifty decorations and creative repurposing of furniture and objects. If you find yourself in a decorating rut, use these resources for inspiration. You can also use sets from holiday movies and TV shows that appeal to you. Establish a Color Scheme Pick a festive color scheme and stick with it. The holidays are associated with mostly warm and rich tones, like brown, red/maroon, and pine. White and silver are …
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When you are trying to sell your home, it is important to make it appear as spacious and inviting as possible. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on a professional home stager, many homeowners opt to stage their homes themselves. If you decide to go this route, here’s how to staging your home on the cheap. In order to make the space look as large as possible, you should remove all extraneous furniture. Using an online self-storage finder, you can find affordable local storage for these items. In all likelihood, your home will be off the market in a month or two, so self-storage should not be a considerable expenditure. If your furniture is not particularly appealing, you may want to rent some more attractive items from CORT furniture rental or purchase clearance furniture. Placing that dilapidated bed frame in self-storage and renting a more lavish bed for a couple months may be an extremely cost effective strategy in the long run. It is also a good idea to purchase flower baskets and generic cooking books for the bathrooms and kitchen, respectively. Also, scented candles and modest soap baskets can also add nice touches to bathrooms. No matter what, it’s vital that you …
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Establishing curb appeal is an important part of the home staging process. After all, if a potential homebuyer isn’t impressed with the outside, it’s unlikely that they’re going to bother exploring the inside. Remove Clutter If your neighborhood is filled with kids, a bike in the yard may not be a deal breaker; however, generally speaking, you do not want your front yard and porch area filled with personal belongings. Moving can be a great opportunity to downsize, but if you don’t want to part with your bulky items; an online self-storage finder can help you locate an offsite storage locker. The Front Door A fresh coat of paint on the exterior can really go a long way, but if you don’t have the time or resources to paint the entire house, you should still apply a fresh layer to the front door. In many ways, the front door is the focal point of the home, so it’s important that it looks as inviting as possible. Consider replacing that old doorknob with a new door handle – perhaps something a bit more aesthetically appealing than a basic knob. Also, a wreath on the door looks great, especially in winter, …
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By John Donegan By using an online self-storage finder, it’s simple to find a secure self-storage facility in your area. In addition to looking at the online reviews, you should also ask the facility managers directly if they’ve had any break-ins in the past. Despite the best efforts of facility managers to ensure that storage lockers are secure, it never hurts to take extra precautions, especially if you live in an area with the occasional break-in, say Atlanta. Unfortunately, when it comes to self-storage units, a standard combination lock isn’t going to do the trick, so we recommend three different types of locks: closed-shackle padlocks, cylinder locks, and disc locks. Closed-shackle padlocks If you have a preference for padlocks, this is an excellent choice. The only difference between closed shackle padlocks and an ordinary padlock is that the former has a U-shaped shackle on top, making it nearly impossible for a thief to use bolt cutters. Cylinder locks As these locks actually protrude on the inside of storage locker, cylinder locks are impossible to cut, pick, or drill through. Unfortunately, most storage facilities’ doors will only accommodate a particular size of cylinder lock; so if you want to go this …
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By John Donegan When relocating to a new home, it often helps to rent a storage unit. By using a self-storage finder, you can find an affordable, well-reviewed location near your new address. A major question that people have is whether to pay extra for a climate-controlled unit. With central heating and air conditioning, climate-controlled storage units maintain a steady temperature and protect your belongings against dust, mold and mildew. In addition, climate control also helps to deter wasps and mice. These benefits aside, climate control is significantly more expensive than regular storage so it’s important to assess whether or not the added expense is warranted. If you are planning on keeping your items in self-storage for an extended period of time, you should strongly consider a climate-controlled locker. Also, consider the geographic location of the storage facility. For example, if you live in an area where the weather fluctuates rapidly or can become severely hot or cold, climate control is the way to go. For example, if you are in an area like Dallas, TX, where it gets extremely humid, climate control is a must. Even if you live in a region with stable and moderate weather, you still …
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By John Donegan at SpareFoot Whether you’re staging a home for sale, moving to a new office or simply de-cluttering the garage, self-storage can be a lifesaver. We’ve come up with some techniques to help you find the perfect unit as efficiently as possible: 1. Determine what size and amenities you need. Storage units come in standard sizes at all facilities, including 5×5-foot, 5×10-foot, and 10×20-foot units. To figure out what size you need, start by stacking all your boxes and items you plan to store against a wall. Arrange them the way you would in your storage unit, then use a measuring tape to approximate the dimensions of the space you’ve filled. The following amenities are available at many facilities. Whether or not you need one of these features depends entirely on what you’re storing and how often you want to access it: Drive-up access – If you’re moving particularly heavy items, find out if your facility offers direct drive-up access to your unit door. 24-hour access – Some facilities allow tenants to come and go on the property through gated entry 24-hours a day. This is great if you’re storing items you’ll need access to on a regular …
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