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| Maximize Your Living Space |
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Your home serves many purposes. You work, play, relax and entertain guests at home. Fortunately, all it takes to get the most out of your living space are some simple organizational strategies and a little elbow grease.
Transform Your Laundry Area Into an
All-Purpose Room
If you find yourself doing more in the laundry area than just washing clothes, you're not alone. According to the National Association of Home Builders, "Homeowners want expanded space, and that means laundry rooms that can serve as multipurpose work areas." Even a modest-sized laundry area can double (or triple) as a:
 | Sewing room | |
| Work space for cleaning fruits and vegetables from the garden | |
| Bill-paying center |
To maximize your laundry area, consider these space-saving suggestions:
| Use a fold-down ironing board that can be neatly packed away as needed. | |
| Take advantage of the space above your washer by mounting shelves for storage. | |
| Save floor space by placing drying racks on top of the dryer. |
Combine the Kitchen and Dining Room
If you find that your family prefers a less formal environment for dinner, or if they tend to eat on the run, you may want to consider building a dining area into your kitchen. Here's how to do it:
| Turn the space above wall cabinets into storage areas for those seldom-used dinner plates and fine china. | |
| Think vertical. A floor-to-ceiling storage bin, with shelving and baskets, can hold many of your most frequently used kitchen items, and takes up less floor space than horizontal storage. | |
| Convert space outside but near the kitchen, such as a hall closet, into a storage pantry. | |
| If a full-size dining-room table is just too big for the dining area, consider buying one with removable leaves. |
Once you've added a dining area to your kitchen, your dining room can be used for other purposes, such as a:
| Play and/or study room for the kids | |
| Den or workroom for Mom and Dad | |
| Exercise room, equipped with a stationary bike or treadmill |
Build a Home Office in Your Bedroom
If you don't need an entire room to serve as a home office, but would still like a small area for work-related activities, consider clearing space for a home office in your bedroom.
| Maximize wall space with shelving or racks for storage. | |
| Preserve floor space by using tall, rather than wide, furniture. | |
| Use the space under your bed for storage. Chances are there's more room there than you think. |
Once you've cleared a space, you'll have room to build a work area.
| Buy a small desk or even a kid-sized desk to save floor space. | |
| You might also consider a collapsible table that can be stored in your closet or under your bed. | |
| Use storage racks or shelving to help stay organized. |
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| Are you looking for more expert tips and advice for everyday life? Visit our Article Library. |
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