Home Organization Tips Archives - Page 2 of 5

Simple Tips for Organizing Your Entire House

August 5, 2017adminDIY Projects, Home Organization TipsDIY projects, home improvement, home organizationLeave a comment

Decluttering your home doesn’t have to be a nightmare. You may feel anxious and discouraged when you see all those stuff scattered everywhere, but with some planning, you can get on top of that and restore your house. Try to picture your home clutter-free, where every single item has its place. This is not hard to achieve and the tips below will surely get you going. So stop procrastinating and start reorganizing your living space.

There’s no success without a plan

Before you start decluttering, you should sit down and make a comprehensive to-do list. Try to think of every single activity that has to be done daily in order to avoid making your home messy again. Make sure to hold onto that list, since it will come in handy for the next cleaning occasion.

Think of priorities

The best place to start reorganizing is where the most clutter is. That’s probably your living room. Go ahead and throw out piled mail, magazines, and papers laying around the room. After you’re done with the living room, you should continue with kitchen and bathroom. With those three rooms done, you’ll already feel some relief.

Prevent yourself from shopping excessively

One of the main reasons you found yourself in a cluttered house is because you have too much stuff. Make sure to think twice before you bring another item in your crowded home. You should look around and see which items you use on regular basis. Everything else is just collecting dust and should be removed.

Routines are good sometimes

Decluttering your home just once won’t be sufficient in the long run. If you’re not doing it constantly, you’ll have a new mess in no time. Make sure to develop a few healthy habits and stick to them in the future. Try to do simple stuff on daily basis. Hang your jacket the moment you enter the house, wash the dishes right after finishing the meal etc.

Share responsibilities

In case you’re sharing your home with other people, try to include them when the time for cleaning comes. Instruct them about their responsibilities on daily basis, and watch how your home is getting cleaner and decluttered in no time.

Get rid of unused stuff

Make sure to permanently dispose of all items that you’re not using anymore. There are few ways you can do this. In the first place, you may drop that stuff to a charity organization, and bring happiness to those in need. Another way is by organizing a yard sale. That will be a fun event, and you’ll make some extra cash instantly.

Avoid disturbance

You want to make sure you’re not disturbed while cleaning. If someone calls while cleaning, you can lose a lot of time before continuing. You should turn off your phone and other devices which can steal your attention. Put up your sleeves and concentrate on the work.

Everything should have its place

Try to avoid piling your mail and other stuff on every free surface in your house. Instead, you may try to make a system which you’ll follow in the future. Think of a specific place for every item and stick to that. A good way of achieving that is to use high shelves and closets. In case you lack space, you should consider renting an affordable self storage unit in your area.

Cut it with the excuses

The best way to get in the way of making excuses is to pick up the big black bag and start tossing stuff in it. After just ten minutes of doing that, you’ll see some changes, and that should keep you motivated to go through the rest of the house.

You can’t do it alone

Don’t hesitate to call friends or family members to help you with reorganizing your home. With all these people, you’ll be able to get the job done very fast. You can use the spare time to make a tasty dinner for your helpers. At the end of the day, you’ll have a clean house and a fun evening with your loved ones.

Final thoughts

The tips mentioned above should do the trick, and you’ll get your home decluttered for good. Just stick to your plan and newly acquired habits, and you won’t find yourself in the bad spot again. Don’t forget to give a favor back to everybody who helped you with reorganizing your home. Now you can relax and enjoy your spacious and clutter-free home once again.

Chloe Smith is a cycling enthusiast, business consultant and a part-time writer always willing to share tidbits of advice. She believes that passion, courage and, above all, knowledge breed success.

3 Simple Steps To Motivate You To Organize Your Home

July 21, 2017adminDIY Projects, Home Organization TipsDIY projects, home organizationLeave a comment

Everyone wants to get organized but very few of us quite get around to it. The main reason why many people get lost in clutter within their homes is the sheer lack of motivation. An individual might spend an hour each morning looking for stuff, but they never think about organizing the space to solve that problem. If you have never been one the few who have everything in its place, here are 3 tips to motivate you to organize your home:

End Results

The biggest motivation for me is thinking about the end result. A clean, fresh and attractive space is the best gift you could possibly have. In an organized home, bugs have no place and you will not be losing money on something that was lost in your clutter. An organized space gives a good impression to guests and friends.

Get Inspired by the Media

To get motivated into organizing your home, try leafing through organized living magazines, newsletters, and books. You can find organization advice on just about anything from making better use of dead space in your kitchen to a closet organization system for your bedroom or pantry. This will not only give you organizing ideas but having a look at these homes will certainly trigger the desire for some order in your home. If the books and photographs do not bring any inspiration, you could watch a few programs on organizing for more realistic tips. From all the reading and watching, you will learn important organizing hacks to help make the difference. If you have much clutter to deal with, dedicate an entire weekend or week to organizing. Remove everything from a room, and have a number of categories to either keep, donate or dump. With everything in the right pile, you can clean the empty room, shelves, and cabinets accordingly. Once the room is dry, start putting everything that you decided to keep in a specific place. The lessons learned during research about organizing are motivational enough to keep things neat and tidy.

Baby Steps

Start by drafting a to-do list and ensure you make organizing a daily routine. This will motivate you to do a little more cleaning, arranging or dusting every day. This action will encourage you to consistently organize your home which will come naturally no matter the day or time. There should be some must-do tasks to accomplish each day to prevent clutter from creeping back in. On days when you feel like breaking the habit, give yourself a reason to organize like inviting some friends to dinner. Since you would want to host guests in a neat and clean space, you will be inspired to clean up and organize. Make your organizing fun by playing some music, wearing comfy clothes, or rewarding yourself for tasks accomplished.

Living in an organized space is not only good for your image, but it is also a healthier and more productive choice. You will not waste time looking for things in the morning, nor will pathogens find a hideout in your home. It might take time to organize the entire house but once you get started, the rewards become simply irresistible.

6 Smart Storage Solutions When Living in A Small House

July 3, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, Home Organization Tipshome improvement, home organization, home trends, storageLeave a comment

Living in a small house has many advantages. First of all, it costs significantly less and the price of maintenance is not nearly as steep as what people are used to. Nonetheless, it has its drawbacks too, most notable of which is the lack of storage space. Luckily, this is a problem that can easily be solved with some out-of-the-box thinking. Here are six smart storage solutions that can turn out to be quite life-saving when a person is living in a small house.

1. Slide-Out Counters

The first thing in your home that could undergo some storage-wise improvement is probably your kitchen. Now, once you fit the oven and the sink, you will have a limited room where to prepare your meal. This is what slide-out counters are for. When you need them, you can simply deploy them and then slide them in once you are done. This will give you enough space to create a proper family dinner without obstructing the movement through the kitchen otherwise. Once you reflect further on this idea, you will realize that the condensed space in the kitchen is actually a good thing rather than bad, seeing how you will able to reach every corner without ever having to move about.

2. Under Bench/Bed Storage

The problem with storage is that although a lot of people look towards the empty space, they seldom go down on the floor level. You see, there is a lot of space underneath your bed and your bench that currently isn’t being used. In order to utilize it to its full potential, you may want to try and fit some boxes there. In this way, they aren’t in a clear line of sight to anyone, yet they remain at your hand’s reach at all times.

3. Self-Storage Units

So far, we talked about tucking things underneath your bed, but what happens when the entire bed needs to be stored somewhere. Sure, if you know you won’t use it ever again you can just sell it online, donate it or give it away to someone you know. However, what happens while you are making this decision or if you hope to reuse it once more? This is where self storage units come in big-time. This is a great temporary solution to your long-term problem and it ensures that all the items you momentarily don’t need are at your disposal once things change.

4. Use Your Ceiling Space

Even though small houses usually don’t have quite tall ceilings, in some parts of the room, this vacant area can still be utilized as a storage solution. All one needs to do here is install some ceiling mounted racks at the appropriate height and there you have it. While some may have various safety concerns about this storage method, as long as they are installed properly there is nothing to worry about.

5. Closet Office

In the 21^st century, working from home has become more or less a common thing. In fact, there is a statistic that these days well over 45 percent of US workforce telecommutes, at least as a part-time. This means that you need a proper office inside of you home, but the question is where? Some people solved this issue by installing a desk in their closet and reorganized this area as their office. Sure, some of you may argue that this leaves you with even less storage space, not more, but it also liberates you a large portion of the house you would otherwise have to assign to an office.

6. Trap Door

Finally, utilizing floor level cavities in your furniture is a great idea, but why not go even lower. Lower than the floor? Exactly! One of the most obscure, yet most intriguing small home storage ideas relies on building a trap door in your floor and storing some of your belongings there. Seeing how this will usually be under some furniture piece, it would be best to use it as a stashing place for valuables or items you don’t use regularly.

In Conclusion

As you can see, the biggest problem of living in a small house can easily be solved with just a bit of imagination and creativity. This is not only unorthodox but also an incredibly fun way of solving your imminent storage space crisis. In other words, where there is a will, there is always a way; or in this scenario at least six ways.

Author bio: Steven Clarke is a business consultant and DIY enthusiast. In his spare time, he likes to write about his ideas and share them with the world. Steven is a regular contributor to several websites.

Creating a Home Office that will Turn Work into Pleasure

November 11, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home Organization TipsDIY projects, home improvement, home office, home organization, home trendsLeave a comment

Avoiding the stress of the morning commute and traffic jam, eating more homemade meals, staying in your pajamas all day – working from home has hundreds of advantages. But, having the power to design your working space as you wish must be the greatest perk of them all. From wall colour and carpeting to stationery – it’s all up to you so here are a few ideas on how to set up your home office to be as stimulative and productive as possible.

Set clear boundaries

As in war, in creating a home office you need to divide in order to conquer. If possible, use a spare room as an office space and make sure that that’s its only purpose. Pulling out a home office/guest room combo might be the best solution since guest rooms are not frequently used. If you don’t have the luxury and your home office is actually a corner in your living room, bedroom, or hallway, then try to separate it as much as possible. Corners make the perfect spots but you can improvise by building walls out of shelves or even curtains.

Remove all distractions

Once you pick a spot for your home office, you need to think thoroughly about what you’re going to keep in it. A computer and other gadgets you use for work are fine, but avoid putting a big screen TV or game consoles in your working space. Even office clutter such as printers and files can be distracting so make sure you put them away, as well. Another good idea is to install a coffee making station somewhere in the room – so you won’t have to go to the kitchen for a refill and be tempted to procrastinate.

Take good care of your back

Working from home means sitting a lot so it’s a good idea to invest in a high-quality chair to support your back. You’ll want an ergonomic chair but make sure it suits your body dimensions and the tasks you’re performing each day, advise the guys behind Ideal Furniture. The optimal seat is about one-quarter of the body height, but that depends on your proportions. Your computer screen should be at eye level or a little bit below and your feet should rest firmly on the floor. Don’t take this for granted and your spine will be thankful.

Light it properly

Numerous studies showed that natural light has a huge impact on the worker’s productivity – it’s connected to our circadian rhythm and the fact that exposure to light turns on our internal clocks. If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room for your office then you’ll probably have a nice window where you can position your desk. Otherwise, investing in lamps is a must. Focused lighting can serve as an addition to daylight, or it can light up your whole office. Table or floor lamp – it’s up to you, just make sure it has a nice glow and an interesting design to keep you inspired.

Make it personal

After all, it is your working space so you’ll want it to have your name and taste written all over it. Use the colours you find soothing, but energizing, but don’t leave the walls empty. You’ll need some storage space so cabinets and shelves are a must. Besides, hanging motivational posters or photos of your friends and family can help you keep going, too. Greenery is always a nice addition and will help you breathe cleaner air while you work. Also, remove all excessive clutter since it can distract you. For starters, opt for a laptop instead of a big desktop computer to maximize your space.

Creating a home office can be a lot of fun as long as you’re not doing it as an excuse to procrastinate. Finish your tasks and then start tinkering – soon you’ll create a place where you’ll actually fall in love with your job.

Elegant and Functional Walk-In Closet Design Ideas

October 10, 2016adminHome Organization Tips, Interior Design, Tips for homebuyershome improvement, home organization, home trends, interior designLeave a comment

One of the biggest mistakes of first time home owners is giving too much significance to the unimportant things. For example, it’s not that important how much room you have in your bathroom or even in your bedroom (if it is one-purpose room). Both of these places have simple functions and you don’t usually spend more time there than you absolutely need.

On the other hand, the size, position and layout of your closet can play a vital role in making your home more orderly and practical. Unfortunately, this is something that people often tend to oversee. Not only does it keep the rest of your home neat, but it also makes it easier for you to find whatever you are looking for. To make things even better, walk-in closets can be designed in a fashionable and enthralling manner, thus ensuring the rest of your home look even better.

Taking Care of Storage Capacities

First things first, when designing a closet, you must appeal to its practical side. What this means is that you have to come up with the way to organize it properly. Naturally, your first step would be to get the right storage capacities, which means finding someone to deal with shelving installation on your behalf. DIY projects are a great idea, but in this particular case, they might not give as satisfactory result, since any irregularity may seriously damage your valuables. Imagine if the shelf you keep your jewelry on suddenly broke or fell. Sure the results may not be catastrophic, but why take any chances? Another option would be to get a secure nightstand with compartmentalized drawers, where you will keep all the most precious things you own.

The Right Light

As we emphasized several times already, practical function of your closet is the most important. This means that your walk-in closet should always have adequate lighting. Now, while the illumination should be your first concern, this isn’t that hard to deal with. Just follow Watts (or lumens if you are going with LED) and you should be fine. What you might want to give some more attention to is making the light in the room match the overall ambiance. If you decide to go with a shimmery color (like petal pink) hanging fixture might be a perfect solution. Furthermore, seeing how glass is a natural light enhancer (due to its reflective nature) you might want to think a bit about investing in some glass shelves.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Speaking of reflective surfaces, no walk-in closet will ever be complete without the mirror. Seeing how this closet is going to be a room without windows, it is vital that you use all you can to enhance the effect of your lighting system. For practical purposes, it goes without saying that what you need is a full length mirror, but this is only the tip of the iceberg of all that you should pay attention to. This mirror is also a part of the room and as such it must fit in. The easiest way to do so is to make the frame match the surrounding wallpaper pattern. To find a universal solution that fits it all, you can always get mirror closet doors.

While to some they may seem like a luxury, but those who once lived in a home with a walk-in closet could never again live without it. Just having them, means that your home will be overall less messy and that you won’t have to make improvised changing rooms wherever you are. Still, in order to make you feel even more comfortable in this little fashion realm of yours, you might want to go one step further and go that extra mile when decoration is concerned.

Guest Post By:

Chloe is an art historian, recreational ballet dancer and a contributor at smoothdecorator.com. She is passionate about photography, dance and music. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world with her husband and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She also enjoys learning and writing about home design, since she is crazy about aesthetics. You can find Chloe on FB, Twitter, and G+.

Looking for Extra Storage Space? – Build a Backyard Cabin!

May 5, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home Organization TipsDIY projects, home improvement, home organization, home trends, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

No matter how much space in your household you have, there always seems to be some missing in order to squeeze in all the things you have recently purchased. What you should do is think about creating some extra storage space by building a cabin in your backyard. It is budget friendly too so you will not have to waste lots of money on it and in no time you will have the perfect place where you can store all your belongings that seem to take up quite a lot of space in the house.

Choose the location

Think about the perfect corner of your backyard to place the cabin. Consider the rest of the space you would like to have for other activities and do not place it in the center of it as it will not be functional at all. Pick out the right spot in the middle of a grass covered area and place your new project away from home.

Think about the size

Be rational when it comes to deciding what size your backyard cabin will be like. Do not overdo it, as you will create the opposite of what you need. You need to store extra items, not create a new house and stuff it with new things you are about to buy. You only need one room used for storing, do not question yourself about including a separate bathroom or other stuff. Remember, it is only a storage cabin. You will have to place your excess stuff out there and the only other thing you will need is rubbish removal. Be reasonable when dividing into “need” and “don’t need” piles.

Off we go

Once you have made clear where and what you want your backyard cabin to be, lay out the concrete foundation pillars. Put main beams up and add subflooring. Frame up the walls. Do not forget to leave the openings for windows. You will definitely need to have some natural light coming into your new cabin to get that perfect combination of wood, greenery and sun all around it. If you are not a pro at construction works, choose a flat roof plan. It is easy to create so do not worry about doing it right by yourself. You will just need to provide two extra pillars on one of the sides just to make sure that you will provide drainage. Nail off the wall sheathings. Once you have sheathed the walls you will only need to put the doors and windows up and you are good to go!

Include your friends

Creating a backyard cabin can be a fun experience to include your family or friends. You will speed up the building and have some quality time together, so think about whom to call to bond over construction works.

Creating a backyard cabin is easier than you might actually think and it will give you the much needed extra storage space. Construct it with your friends at a perfect spot in your backyard surrounded with greenery and in no time you will have the place to put all your additional belongings!

How to prepare your kitchen for spring

March 28, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home Organization Tips, Kitchen RemodelingDIY projects, home organization, kitchen remodeling, kitchens, springLeave a comment

Spring is coming! In order to prepare your home for its rejuvenating effects what you need is a proper spring remodeling and is there a better place to start doing so than your very own kitchen. However, there are so many things to do and in so little time, that you will have to organize yourself properly in order to make it. With this in mind, here are some things you need to do in order to prepare your kitchen for spring.

Spring cleaning

There is no better place to start with this spring makeover than to thoroughly clean your kitchen and all of its surfaces. Whatever you decide to do next, having a clean work environment is always a paramount. Take out and throw everything you no longer need and swipe clean all the counter surfaces, your fridge and of course the stove. However, seeing how your kitchen is a place where you prepare the food for your entire family, you don’t want to have it tainted by dangerous chemicals. Luckily, there are completely natural solutions made from vinegar, salt, baking soda and even bleach. At the very least a bit of soapy water never hurt anyone.

Painting it adequately

Every now and then your kitchen will need painting and seeing how in spring we have a bit longer and warmer days, it might be as good time as any to do so. In 2016, natural colors are in but you need to be very careful when painting your kitchen and dining room since it is known that different colors can affect our appetites differently. For example, colors black and brown are made to diminish your appetite (which makes them into powerful dietary tools) while yellow and orange are known to make you want to eat more. Always keep this in mind, even if you are going for wallpaper instead of paint.

Organization

Next thing you need to pay attention to in your kitchen is the issue of organization. Try and always look for different storage solutions and methods. For example, everyone knows that it is easier to store your pots without their lids on, but later on when you need to pair the pot with the lid this doesn’t seem as such a good idea after all. This is why you can greatly benefit from such a thing as lid racks on the inside of your cabinet doors and many other similar ideas. Even if your kitchen is absolutely tiny, you always have some unused walls to hang a wall rack on so there is no need for desperation.

Make it cooking friendly

Finally, once the spring begins, days will start getting warmer and warmer and there is something you will have to do about it. Install an AC unit inside of it, or if you already have one, check if you need air con repairs. Finally, seeing how there are many fumes that will circulate the room (caused by your cooking) now might be a good time for you to purchase an aspirator. Here you have two choices, either one with recirculation as a method or one with the exhaust pipe. Simply do some homework on both of these methods and go with one that you find more fitting.

Although all of these remodeling efforts are minor in nature, they are more than necessary to prepare you for the upcoming season. By starting in due time, you should be more than prepared to enjoy the spring in your very own kitchen. This notion alone is something that is indeed hard (if not impossible) to top.

Compact and urban decor ideas for small places

December 3, 2015adminDIY Projects, Home Decor, Home Organization Tips, Interior Designdecorating, DIY projects, home decor, home trendsLeave a comment

Booming cities provide many benefits of modern living, but one resource is scarce- space. Those who make an effort to tackle this limitation discover that small spaces are fit for many unique design exploits. So, it’s time to get creative and arrange an abode high on personality and low on clutter. There are extensive upgrades such as renovating and remodeling, but also some smart and inexpensive steps towards owning an appealing and well-organized home.

Step by step

The first thing to note is that every inch counts. Thus, one of the perquisites for visual overhaul is a de-cluttering process. To keep the rooms clutter-free, it’s advisable to use storage space such as the wall shelving. It’s quite functional all right, but also provides a chance to display décor and arrange a collection of books. Even better, create a DIY sculpture by the desk with a tall stack of books and surprise your visitors with ingenuity.

Now, choosing a light color palette is a safe bet for small apartments because it gives the feeling of more space. That’s not to say that people shouldn’t add any life with splashes of color. No need to shy away from mixing patterns, textures and styles, but syncing them is crucial. Scale down when it comes to accessories, so place a few bold-printed throws and cushions, for example. One of the ways to showcase collections and sentimental pieces is to group them in one place.

In other cases, the best ways to enhance a small space is a divide and conquer strategy. Those who have a large room that serves multiple purposes should consider setting boundaries. Why not do it with some style by putting the ceiling-mounted curtains and transforming the home into a chic retreat? Another option is to use an open bookshelf as a room divider, as it establishes the feel of an open design we are aiming for.

Let there be light and space

Lighting is an essential element of any interior space, and one that makes it shine. Solutions like LED wall lights or DIY pendant lights are a perfect match for contemporary environments. Apart from being a treat for the eyes, LED lights are also energy-efficient. Furthermore, using large mirrors complements the lighting and creates an illusion of space. Floor-to-ceiling ones transform blank walls to reflect the surroundings and brighten up the environment.

When choosing furnishing one should be cautious, but still prepared to take bold risks. So, how about acrylic ghost chairs and other see-through fittings that take the mesmerizing atmosphere to the even higher level? Designers opt for clean lines and simple round forms that introduce a sense of a compact living area and add an organic component with natural elements like wooden stools, potted plants and custom woodworking.

Modular furnishing is a great acquisition that boosts the versatility of the small area. These movable pieces allow us to assemble different formations for a number of purposes. An ottoman can serve as a foot rest but also an impromptu coffee table, and it’s easily moved aside when not needed. Dual-purpose furniture provides the same benefits, so why not turn your sofa into a dining banquette, or transform the banquette into a guest bed? Thinking outside the box enables people to make the most of the ones they live in.

A small secret

Small homes are both challenging and rewarding environments. They are quite limited when it comes to space, and yet that holds the secret to their true power. Know when to go by the book and when is the time to push the boundaries. Think multipurpose, and steer away from big pieces that eat up the room. To make a statement, it’s important to pay attention to detail and keep it clean and functional. Use unexpected tools and killer décor as a focal point to elevate the style of even the smallest of shelter

Tips To Make Your Next Home Move Easier

December 1, 2015adminDIY Projects, Home Organization Tips, Tips for homebuyersDIY projects, home improvement, MovingLeave a comment

The thought of moving into a new home is both exciting and overwhelming! We found this moving house checklist to help you organize your next move and make things a little easier. Just print it out and check off the boxes as you complete each task. Happy moving!

Moving House Checklist by Terrys Fabrics.

Family History: How to protect your Most Valuable Family Heirlooms

September 28, 2015adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home Organization TipsDIY projects, home decor, home improvementLeave a comment

Almost everyone owns some treasured piece of their family history whether it’s jewelry that belonged to your immigrant great-grandmother or the wood-stove that warmed the log cabin where your grandfather was born. These are important to your family story and your sense of history. Heirlooms come in all shapes and sizes and require care to retain their beauty and value for the next generation and those after. Here are some recommendations regarding the preservation of family heirlooms.

Furniture

You may have inherited a piece of genuine Federalist furniture that has been lovingly cared for through the generations, moving across country from New England to Iowa to California with your family. Furniture is a relatively hardy commodity that is not easily broken; however, it does require consistent care, including the use of safe and appropriate cleaning solutions. Darker wood should also be protected from direct sunlight. In case of damage, you should seek professional furniture restorers, not a do-it-yourself kit.

Family Bibles and Other Books

Books have two traditional enemies: fire and moisture. Both can ruin them completely. If placed in storage, consider using a climate-controlled environment, like those at The Storage Center, to protect your family books from the damp and frequent humidity changes. Additionally, storing an eighteenth century family Bible in a fireproof box is by no means overkill. It may be one of the wisest decisions you make in terms of protecting original family records. Digitization is another option for those who value the historical insight as much as the object itself.

Jewelry

Many women have received heirlooms in the form of broaches, rings, necklaces, and other jewelry, passed from mother to daughter or granddaughter through the centuries. Some of these pieces may have real monetary value; others may be made from cheaper stuff, but valued nonetheless because of its history. Their newest owners would be wise to have them appraised, if only for insurance purposes and natural curiosity. Deciding how to protect the item may be partially determined by its extrinsic value – whether you choose to keep it in a drawer or jewelry box or in a secure storage facility or home safe.

Art

Like furniture, art can be profoundly damaged by direct sunlight, and yet most people would not want to keep a painting their family saved from World War II era Europe hidden in a dark closet. The solution is to find a suitable hanging place for the artwork and then work to minimize the amount of light it receives, using window film, draperies, and other protective measures. Consults are available for those seeking to protect truly priceless family paintings. Restoration services are also widely available for those damaged by time or carelessness, although it is very important to choose a reputable restorer.

Military

Over the centuries, many men have returned from war with nothing to show for it, but wounds and bad memories; however, others have come back with weapons and armaments to hand down father to son through their line. These can range from knives or bayonets to service weapons to unexploded ordinance, just to name a few possibilities. Some of these can be dangerous to store in the home. Those such as hand grenades are unwise to store anywhere. It is recommended that guns be stored in gun safes or in storage centers that allow the storage of antique, that is, non-working, firearms.

Many other types of heirlooms exist, as unique as the family whose story they tell. For more specialized instructions, consider consulting the archival sciences department of a nearby college or university, or if possible, other family members who know more about the item in question. Family treasures are important for all those who will come after you and yearn to know more of their family’s history.