5 Great Uses for Extra Closets

Everyone has that pesky extra closet or two that is filled to the top with unorganized junk. It's time to clean that space out and put it to good use! Today we bring you our top 5 great uses for extra closets in your home.

1.  Mini Mud Room

This revamp is perfect for those with that pointless extra closet in the entry way that is probably always stuffed with umbrellas and winter coats. Get much more use out of it as a functional mini mud room!

2. Library or Reading Nook

Turning a closet into a library or reading nook creates a cozy, inspirational space for little ones (and you!) to settle down with a good book and relax.

3. Nursery

If you're lacking on space with a little one on the way, try utilizing that spare closet as a mini nursery to maximize your space.

4. Desk or Office Space

If you don't want to ruin the flow of your home's interior decoration but still need to get office work done, try putting your office space into a spare closet. Maximum functionality, minimum clutter.

5. Guest Room Bed Space

This clever idea for a guest room really maximizes the living space for the people who stay with you. Take out a walk in closet and put a small bed in. Comfortable and cozy!

5 Amazing Underground Houses

With population rising and land decreasing, it's no surprise that people are beginning to move their dwellings from above ground to just under the surface. Surprisingly enough, the trend is catching on faster than expected due to how eco-friendly and cost efficient these "earth homes" are for their owners. Today we bring you 5 of the most amazing houses you'll find inside the earth!

1. Cave House in Festus, Missouri

This 15,000-Square-Foot home gained notoriety and public attention after being put up for sale on Ebay. Built directly into a sandstone cave, the structure is extremely energy efficient. While the home is styled in a modern way, the family has left the natural sandstone walls to contrast in a striking way.

2. Hidden House in Lower Silesia, Poland

This modern underground house created by KWK Promes blends flawlessly with its green, natural surroundings. The home was created to give the owners a perfect balance of indoor/outdoor setting. The grassy roof top is only accessible by the residents via a staircase inside the home.

3. Flower Petals in Bolton, U.K.

Designed by British Football Star Gary Neville, this underground home is still a work in process and waiting approval from the town's committee. The house was created to be functional and stylish, yet also extremely eco-friendly and with the intent to not take much away from the beautiful hillside the home is built into.

4. Estate Lättenstrasse, Dietikon, Switzerland

This interesting Swiss house was designed with the intent of protection against natural occurrences, such as weather, wind, and temperature fluctuation. This residential settlement is actually comprised of nine different houses, each surrounding a small man made lake.

5. Malator in Druidstone, Wales

Commonly referred to by locals as ‘the Teletubby house', this simple home makes a big first impression. Though comprised of essentially just a single room, colorful pods separate each living space in the home. 

6 Cool Houses 800-Square-Feet And Under

Have you heard of the tiny house movement? People all around the world have decided to downgrade from their large, bulky homes into something a little more compact and down to the basics. Don't think tiny houses are for you? These may make you think again! Here are 10 of the coolest ones we found today-

  

1. 500-Square-Foot Small House By Smallworks Studios

This lovely home is located in Vancouver, Canada and is inhabited by couple who decided to build this humble home in their parents' back yard. The home is two levels and features a garage, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living area, and balcony.

2. 800-Square-Foot Timber Framed House By Nir Pearlson

Located in Oregon, this home was specially created for an aging couple who wanted something small, one level, and eco-friendly. The home is created with sustainable materials and is also energy efficient. 

3.  192-Square-Foot Shipping Container House By Hybrid Architecture

At only 192-square-feet, this home is probably one of the tiniest out there! Though it is built using a 24' long shipping container, this home was created to sleep up to four people. Roof top solar panels power most of the home.

4.  130-Square-Foot 'Tall Man's Tiny House' By Adam Leu

This home is built on a 20 foot trailer and is fully plumbed and wired. The loft bed area is large enough to accommodate a low profile queen mattress to sleep multiple people. Because the creators tower over most people at 6'7, the home is specially designed for those who need more vertical space.

5. 400-Square-Foot Barn in Oakland, California

This 100 year old barn was renovated by two designers to fit their simple lifestyle and their growing family. Four house this barn, including an infant and a blue heeler dog. Everything, down to the furniture, crib, and mattress, was built and designed by the couple themselves.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

6. 20x12 Structure in Seattle, Washington by Ninebark
This tiny home was originally imagined as an office, guest quarters, and a play area for the Zimmerman family. This tiny house has a remarkable number of green features, including almost all salvaged wood components.

                         

5 Great Organization Ideas for the Home

Organization in the home makes the difference between a smooth running household for your family and a chaotic storm. Here are some of our favorite organization tips and tricks for the home!

1. Build shallow shelves behind the door of your laundry or utility room.

The space behind the door of your laundry or utility room is often overlooked and under utilized. Build shallow shelves behind the door to store fabric softeners, laundry detergent, and anything else that you need but don't necessarily like looking at all the time.

2. Put a magazine rack in the pantry.
Not only is a magazine rack inexpensive, it is also a simple and attractive solution to the problem most of us suffer from - too many cans in the pantry.

3. Add a second shower rod for extra bathroom storage.

If you've got a small shower and a big collection of bath products, this organization tip is right up your alley. Simply hang another tension rod and use dollar store baskets and cheap "S" shower curtain hooks for this crafty tip.

4. Nail the lids of jars under a cabinet.

Whether you use the jars in your home office for paper clips and tacks or in your kitchen for spices, this easy and accessible idea is a more attractive take on your every day storage solutions.

5. Hang a show organizer for organizing things other than shoes.

Shoe organizers can be handy for shoes and just as handy for cleaning supplies in a laundry room or bathroom!

10 Not So Every Day Uses For Every Day Items

In the home, most people don't always have the proper tools for every day issues that may arise. Little do they know that for most of these issues, they've had the tools all along in every day objects around the house! Here are the top 10 things we found that made us wonder, "Hey, why didn't we think of that?".

1. Use ice cubes to get rid of unsightly furniture dents in your carpet.
Let the ice cubes fully melt on their own, then gently use a kitchen spoon to lift the carpet fibers back up and leave to dry. 

2. Wrap aluminum foil around your door knob when painting for a close paint job without the hassle.
The foil molds to the shape of the knob and stays firmly in place until the job is done.

3. Use plastic cups and cardboard to store fragile ornaments.
Glue the bottoms of the cups to a sheet of cardboard that fits your container and never have to worry again about broken ornaments and messy holiday decorations.

4. Put ground cinnamon in your little one's sandbox to keep the bugs at bay.
Sprinkle about a cup and a half of ground cinnamon on the surface of the sandbox, then rake it into the top layer of sand for extra protection from pesky insects.

5.  Use a dust pan to help fill the things that don't fit in your sink.

No more struggling to fill large buckets for mopping the floors. Just place the dust pan in the sink and angle the bucket underneath.

6. Use a can opener to easily cut through tough plastic packaging.
Let's face it, plastic packaging has taken up hours of our lives trying to tear open. Use the can opener to get the job done in a fraction of the time.

7. Use baby powder to get the sand off after a fun beach day in the sun.
Simply rub the baby powder on your skin when you're done with the day and the sand rubs right off.

8. Poke holes in the top of a milk jug for a no drip way to water your plants.

Just heat up a needle to poke holes in the lid and you've got a simple, inexpensive, and very handy way to water your inside or outside plants.

9. Use a cereal canister as a mini trash can in your car.
Put a plastic bag in the canister and be amazed at how easy it is to dispose of trash on the go.

10. Use an old pillow case to clean the blades of your ceiling fans.
Not only is the pillow case easy to wash right after, but it traps all the dust inside and saves you from breathing it in and brushing it all into the air.

6 Beautiful Ways To Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal!

When the outside of your home makes a great first impression, everyone will want to see what's inside. Yes, especially potential homebuyers! Check out these simple improvements you can make to boost your home's curb appeal and attract more buyers to your home.

1. Reface your foundation. 
If you have a raised concrete foundation with chipping, faded paint, try this simple fix to make your home really stand out!

2. Camouflage eyesores.  

The first thing that people want to see when they view your home is not your electrical box or garbage cans. A few inexpensive fixes and the eyesores will be no more!

3. Paint or stain the garage door for a complete home facelift.

If you're tired of the same boring taupe, eggshell, and off white garage door, try this simple project that produces big results!

4. Update your front porch lights.

For about $1 for spray pain, you can update the lighting fixtures on your front porch to make it look so much more inviting and friendly.

5. Replace damaged or missing shingles.
If your room has seen its fair share of stormy weather, it may be time to replace any shingles that may have been damaged or gone missing altogether.

6. Update that boring front door.

Updating your dull old front door does not have to be an expensive and time consuming task! A little bit of paint, foam molding, and address numbers can go a long way.