Living Better With Less: Reuse What You're About to Throw Out To Organize Your Home

beautiful glass candles:

now as beautiful containers for office supplies or in medicine cabinet:

dry cleaner bags to help handbags keep their shape:

toilet paper rolls to keep utensil tray in place:

Candle Holders as Drawer Organizer and/or To Organize Your Medicine Cabinet

Opt for beautiful glass candles so you can reuse the glass. The smaller ones are perfect for the medicine cabinet for make-up brushes, q-tips, cotton pads, small tubes of whatever. Even in a drawer or on a desk to hold paperclips, push pins, coins, etc.... Once the candle is fully burned, use a butter knife to scrape out as much of the wax as possible. Then use the scrub side of a sponge with soapy water to get the rest of the wax out.

Dry Cleaner Bags to Help Your Bags Keep Their Shape

Your dry cleaner should take back the hangers for reuse, but they won't take the bags so you can use them to pack; click here to find out how; and use them to help care for your handbags. Tie a bag at the end and stuff as many bags as needed inside, then tie it off at the other end (so you only have 1 thing to pull out when you use your bag instead of a flurry of loose bags), and stuff in your handbag to help keep its shape.

Toilet Paper Rolls To Keep Your Drawer Organizer in Place

Toilet paper, paper towel rolls (and/or from a lint roller) keep your drawer organizer in place. Sometimes there's a inch or two left over. Shove the rolls in the back of the drawer to help keep the tray from sliding every time you open the drawer. You may have to fold up and stick one roll inside the other to make it stiff. In the pic above from my kitchen I have several stuffed back there.

Catalogs / Magazines as Boot Shapers

If you don't want to drop $10+ per pair for boot shapers, just roll up one (or a couple) magazines or catalogs that you would have otherwise recycled I hope, and place them in your boots. voilà!

Restyled Living/Dining Room

(before)

(after)

(before)

(after)

(click on image for larger view)

You've seen other areas of this apartment, now for the main living/dining space.

We did a major edit and mapped out new homes for everything, but just as important, we made a few decorative changes. The major thing was reorienting the rug. You can see in the 3rd pic the rug came out from behind the sofa as it ran lengthwise from the TV. The lounge chair near the windows wasn't even on the rug; an unconscious message of how the wife hates it. Now the rug runs lengthwise in front of the TV and the husband is happy to finally feel like he's part of the living area :O)

We also:

- switched out the small metal lamps with large green ones

- installed a sconce over lounge chair

- the only purchase: baskets under coffee table for magazines, books, etc

- moved around art and hung art

- re-styled entire room

Utility Closet: After

(right)

(straight in)

(floor left)

(left)

(left corner)

What we did:

- edited + sorted like things together

- removed items that didn't belong in this closet

- reused existing boxes to group things on shelves

- moved utility hooks from right wall to back left corner

- moved all cleaning supplies to tall left front cabinet

- cleared bottom cabinet to get vacuum off floor

- moved light up + over

- hung 2 posters previously collecting dust in a back room

Go here for more details.

Chinese Cabinet: Before and After

(before)

(after)

(left drawer after)

(right drawer after)

When I first saw this cabinet, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Sitting at the head of the dining table, I thought it would be great as a serving station or bar. Since they also have two dressers in the dining area, we decided to put the serving pieces in the drawers and have this cabinet as the bar (the husband is a professor and gets a lot of nice bottles of wine and alcohol as gifts).

We cleared everything out, edited and sorted what was left, and redistributed to other areas of the apartment. A stemware rack makes the most use of the top shelf. The middle shelf in the after pic was actually a cover to the bottom 'pit'. This is supposed to be for hidden or long term storage below. I thought it would be better used as a floating shelf below the drawers. My installer used small metal braces to connect the shelf to the cabinet since it's about 2" short of sitting in the existing sides which you can see in the first pic; there's a small green box sitting on the left side brace under the drawers.

The bottom 'pit' holds excess wine bottles and alcohol. Middle shelf is for wine and has placers to keep the bottles from moving. The client is very happy not only with how it looks but how we organized it by reusing so many of her beautiful little dishes and bowls that she thought she had too many of without any real use for.

Note: I know these pics aren't great. I'm getting a new camera and when we're done with the apt, will take pics of the whole place as an apt tour to show you everything we did here. It's a great space, can't wait to show you!

The Accessories Closet Continued...

(note: these are progress shots)

I wanted to show you how we reused a few things for the accessories closet from the previous post.

The existing tie rack is now holding belts. The belts that couldn't be hung, sit nicely in a box the client already had. We used the built in drawers to hold handbags. If you look closely, I placed a shoe box in the drawer as a divider.

The rug was rolled up in the coat closet and was on it's way out since she's redecorating. This small one fits well enough in here and she has a larger one that's now in the walk-in clothes closet. I love a rug in a closet; it gives a finished and elevated look to the space...

Donate Your Electronics

(look how nice your closet can look when you clear out the unwanted

and unloved stuff you've been holding on to...)

Your old, broken electronics can and should be recycled.

But your newer things can and should be passed along to someone who can give it a new life:

- NY Mag did this quick article on where to bring your A/C, TV, computers and other things.

- NYC Stuff Exchange helps you find someone who wants your unwanted items.

- Laptop.org is taking laptops for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

- Make-A-Wish Foundation takes only new electronics and computers.

- Contact your local Police Department to donate cell phones for re-use at domestic violence centers.

Custom Closet for About $200

(before)

(after)

I love coming up with custom solutions for closets that don't cost an arm and a leg. This client came to me because she needed to make room in her 2-bedrm apartment for a new baby (due any day!). To do that, this closet needed to hold all her current and off-season clothes, shoes, and bags that were spread out in two closets.

The existing shelf was moved up to take advantage of the high ceiling. New Rubbermaid FreeSlide Shelves were cut to fit around a new center shelf unit to give much needed additional shelf and hanging space. The approximate cost of materials; center shelf unit, new shelves and brackets, valet hook, full length mirror, and small hooks was $200 (not including tax, transportation from lowes to apt, and installation).

In addition, on sale for 20% off, new metal hangers were bought for approx $190, two hanging hampers separate laundry from dry cleaning and canvas boxes store off season clothes on the upper shelf for approx $80.

This client has a beautiful collection of handbags, shoes, and boots that she prefers to keep in their boxes and dust bags. The bags she uses more often are stored on the center shelf. For more pics check out my flickr.

Where to Donate

Editing your things down can be hard, but sometimes figuring where to bring the things you'd like to pass along to someone else can be even harder. I hope this helps! Some of these are for NYC drop off only, but those with (*) are be sent to from anywhere in the country. Remember, bolded text is a link.

BABY/CHILDREN'S ITEMS

Baby Buggy

Baby Buggy, a 501 c 3 Accredited Charity founded in 2001, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing New York City's families in need with essential equipment, clothing, and products for their infants and young children.

CLOTHING/TOYS/FURNITURE

Room to Grow (NY and Boston)

Founded in 1998, Room to Grow is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development.

GAMES/BOOKS/VIDEOS

*The Ronald McDonald House

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.

BOOKS

SPECIALTY BOOKS FOR BUSINESS TRAINING

The Hope Program

The Hope Program helps New Yorkers transcend the root causes of poverty by preparing them to find, keep, and grow careers. We blend vocational, educational, and social services with a lifelong commitment to a person's success.

DESIGN, COOKBOOKS, FICTION AND NON-FICTION, ETC

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe

Housing Works is renowned for addressing the needs of people living with AIDS by offering a comprehensive array of health, housing, AIDS prevention, legal and case management services, we help our clients to empower themselves and actively manage their HIV.

TEXTBOOKS AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE

*National Services Resource

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to volunteer and help meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other critical areas.

CLOTHING

ATHLETIC SHOES

*Nike Reuse-A-Shoe

Your worn-out athletic shoes can live on in something new: a track, basketball court, or a playground.

BRAS

*The Bosom Buddy Program

The Bosom Buddy Program is a a textile recycling company, specializing in recycling bras and providing deserving women in our communities who are facing challenges with a basic lingerie staple.

PROM DRESSES AND ACCESSORIES

*Donate My Dress

DonateMyDress.org is the first national campaign to encourage girls to donate their prom and special occasion dresses to those who cannot afford them for prom, sweet 16, quinceañera or formals.

Operation PROM

Operation PROM was originally established to help low-income students attend their proms

by providing free prom dresses and tuxedo rentals.

Operation Fairy Dust

Operation Fairy Dust was created in 2002 to provide NYC high school girls in need, with formal prom dresses, cosmetics, and accessories.

BUSINESS APPROPRIATE ATTIRE

*Dress For Success (women's only)

Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization offering services designed to help our clients find jobs and remain employed.

The Hope Program

THEATRICAL COSTUMES/PERIOD CLOTHING

Theatre Development Fund (from 1950's and prior)

Contact Jim Crochet at jimc@tdf.org for details

Theatre Development Fund, a not-for-profit organization, was created with the conviction that the live theatrical arts afford a unique expression of the human condition that must be sustained and nurtured. TDF’s twofold mission is to identify and provide support, including financial assistance, to theatrical works of artistic merit, and to encourage and enable diverse audiences to attend live theatre and dance in all their venues.

MISC CLOTHING, SHOES, ACCESSORIES, JEWELRY

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Goodwill Industries

Goodwill Industries International enhances the dignity and quality of life of individuals, families and communities by eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work.

City Opera Thrift Shop

All proceeds support the creation and design of costumes for new productions at New York City Opera.

Housing Works

FURNITURE/ART/HOUSEWARES

Partnership For the Homeless

Founded in 1983, the Partnership for the Homeless is committed to building a just and equitable society and creating lasting community change through solution-oriented programs and policy initiatives that eliminate the root causes of homelessness.

The Salvation Army

Goodwill Industries

Housing Works

City Opera Thrift Shop

FOOD (canned, non-perishable)

Food Bank for NYC

The Food Bank solicits, warehouses and distributes food to more than 1,000 food pantries, soup kitchens and other food assistance programs throughout the five boroughs. These programs, in turn, prepare balanced, nutritious meals for people who don't have enough money or resources for one of life's most basic necessities: food.

The Ronald McDonald House

LARGE ELECTRONICS/APPLIANCES/BUILDING MATERIALS

Build It Green NYC

Build It Green! NYC, is New York City's only non-profit retail outlet for salvaged and surplus building materials. Our warehouse has everything from panel doors to high end refrigerators and shutters to movie props. Our mission is to keep these materials out of the landfill, while offering deep discounts on their resale.

PRESCRIPTION GLASSES/HEARING AIDS

*Most eye glass stores take glasses for various redistribution programs. Simply go into your local store and ask.

*New Eyes For The Needy

Eyeglasses in good condition are sent to medical missions and international charitable organizations for distribution to the poor in developing nations. Proceeds from the sale of scrap metal, hearing aids, jewelry and giftware are used to purchase new eyeglasses for poor U.S. residents.

SHEETS/BEDDING/TOWELS + PET FOOD/TOYS/CRATES ETC

*Most local veterinarian's office or animal shelters accept these things that would otherwise not be accepted. Ask you local place if they do.

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Material for the Arts

Materials for the Arts, NYC helps artists realize their visions, provides students with a richer educational experience, and furnishes businesses with a simple and efficient way to enhance the cultural life of their city while promoting environmental awareness and reuse.

*Sports Gift

Sport Gift is focused on providing sports to underprivileged children throughout the world and promoting sports related community service among our youth.

Build A Bookcase

(my first apt, the bookcase sat centered behind the curtain)

(behind the curtain)

(reused in my second apt, the tiny studio)

(showing the screw from underneath)

(base supports)

I figured since I showed you how I took a part the bookcase for my new bed, I should tell you how I made it in the first place.

The piece was in my first apt, sitting behind the bedroom curtain to store work materials that I didn't want out. The curtains were installed 10" from the wall so 10" deep shelves would fit perfectly. I measured the things to go on the shelves so I had the perfect height for each shelf. If I were making this for books, I would measure what I had to find out the deepest and tallest to make sure things fit nicely.

I went to my local hardware store (with a lumber dept) and purchased a 4' x 8' x 3/4" sheet of sturdy yet inexpensive wood and had them cut nine 10" shelves. The supports came in 8' length which were cut at 12" intervals.

I staggered the posts for aesthetic reasons and although I found out I glued most of them, I would suggest screwing it together from the bottom so you don't see the screws when upright. Drill starter holes and use 3 or 4" wood screws. I used four posts on their sides for the base for maximum support. I also pushed it so it was right on the wall (again for support), you could always attach it to the wall with L-brackets you can pick up at your local hardware store.

Apartment Details: Bathroom Storage

(basket as it 'should' be)

(flipped over)

I wanted to show you how I'm using my bathroom basket. I used it in my first apt like this, and in my previous studio like this. For this bathroom, I wanted something that had the look of being raised off the floor so I just flipped it over. Now it has a whole new look and feel.