Create Your Own DIY Storage Ottoman
January 11, 2016
A great storage ottoman is a must-have piece of furniture for my living room. I keep mine in front of a cozy chair and fill it with some extra throw blankets; it’s nice to have blankets at hand without cluttering up the couch. Storage furniture can cost a pretty penny, though, and it’s not always a feasible buy. Well, I have good news. You can craft your own DIY storage ottoman with nothing more than a basic plastic storage tote and a few supplies.
Photo courtesy DarlingPetuina.blogspot.com.
My favorite storage ottoman had been on its last leg for a while now and it finally gave in this past weekend. I’ve been scavenging the internet trying to find a replacement, but I just don’t have the extra cash to blow on it right now. Lucky for me, I found this awesome DIY project to craft my own. The Darling Petunia Blog has a great example of this project, including some photos featuring her adorable feline helper. All you need is a tote, some foam (and cotton batting if you desire) and your choice of fabric. This is a real simple project for beginner sewers, so don’t sweat it.
First, Darling Petunia says, you want to cut your foam to fit the top of your storage bin. Then attach it to the lid using a heavy duty adhesive; I just used my trusty hot glue gun for this step. Next, if you opted to the batting, lay it over the foam to soften some sharp sides. Then all you have to do is create the slip cover.
For the cover, you need one piece of fabric the size of the top of the lid, plus a few long strips that will cover the sides of the foam. Lastly, you need some long panels to cover the sides of the bin. You can choose to pleat the corners, but it’s not a necessary step.
I love this project because it’s super inexpensive, hands-on but EASY. Creating this DIY storage ottoman takes very little time and can quickly be replaced if the tub gets beat up by pets or kids. I’ve even made a few separate covers so I can switch out the fabric when I feel like; It’s a great way to freshen up the style of a room!
Bumps Be Gone Hangers
January 11, 2016
It’s not just the tie that makes the man, it’s the whole suit. While we here at Tie Racks Blog typically focus on the best ways to care for, store and organize the neck pieces in your wardrobe, those accessories are worthless unless you take care of the rest of your wardrobe. As a woman, I know men do not typically go into such meticulous efforts to organize their wardrobes; the easier, the better. So when I started utilizing the Bumps Be Gone Hangers in my own closet, I immediately knew my husband would love them.
These unique hangers are designed to hang clothes without creating unsightly bumps in the shoulders from stretching. The bendable hangers are made from an easy-to-manage wire covered in a soft, grip-able foam. Bend the hanger arms slightly up or down to hang anything from sweaters to slacks. These hangers are great for men because they can manage the weight of dress pants and suit coats, but also hang nice dress shirts without compromising the structure of the shoulder. The Bumps Be Gone hangers are a great solution minus the extra effort that comes with large organizers or valet stands. Your guy can store and protect his duds in minimal time.
These flexible hangers can even be folded down to easily fit into luggage when you travel; Never struggle with wrinkled or stretched clothes when you fly or stay in a hotel for business.
These awesome hangers are available in the original design as well as a few other convenient alternate versions.
Bumps Be Gone Styles:
“I recently bought additional “Bumps Be-Gone” hangers as I loved the first ones I got several years ago. They not only are great for hanging to dry things you can’t put in the dryer, but also for keeping sweaters neatly hung in the closet without having the shoulders ruined by hanger marks. Highly recommended!” — Linda S., Four Stars
Create custom storage with the drop front shoe box
January 7, 2016
There are some shoes that just require the Cadillac of storage. For those perfect pumps or flashy sneakers, it is important to keep them looking as new as possible and the only way to do that is to completely protect them from the busy environment of your home.
During a recent move I thinned out my shoe collection and decided only to keep my very favorites; but these survivors needed the best of the best storage — they weren’t just going to sit on a rack in the front closet.
For my treasured kicks, I discovered the drop front shoe box. For those not familiar, a drop front shoe box is a standard plastic tote with a top lid — only it features a unique opening front piece that allows you to access shoes when these boxes are stacked on top of each other.
The style that I found comes in two different sizes. The large is perfect for a pair on men’s dress shoes, while the small is great for ballet flats or sandals. I decided to purchase five of each and stack them across the top shelf of my closet. I am so happy with theses sturdy boxes! They’re made from crystal clear high-impact plastic so I can easily tell which pair is where — something that makes my morning routine all the much easier. The strong build is very reliable and long-listing, plus the complete design protects my expensive habit from dirt, dust and even pets! They stack so nicely; straight, even and they do not move or teeter when I open a box and pull out a pair of shoes.
These convenient boxes have multiple uses, too. You can get matching dividers so you can use them to sort things like socks or tights.
I highly recommend these storage boxes, even if you’re just looking to store a choice few of your collection.