Amid
all we do, working in some shortcuts can make things simplified and
speedy. It’s not rocket science; it’s
just an attempt to cut out unneeded steps to smooth out the design of the
everyday tasks around the home.
2. Store cleaning
basics – disinfecting wipes, spray, scrub brushes, glass cleaner, and paper
towels – in each bathroom cabinet under the sink. Instead of carting a carrier from room to
room, having supplies right where you use them is the most streamlined
method.
3. Fill a small bin with tool basics – hammer, screw drivers, pliers, a wrench, measuring
tape, picture hanging supplies – and keep it inside in the laundry room or
under the kitchen sink. For basic jobs,
it’s much handier than retrieving supplies from different cases in the
garage.
4. Use wall
hooks liberally throughout the house.
Whether you’re establishing a place to hang tomorrow’s outfit components
in each closet, hang key rings right inside the back door, hang pet leashes in
the entry, or hang each bathroom user’s bath towel individually, each
designated spot is easy for retrieving and putting away your items.
5. Keep a decorative throw blanket over the arm of a living room sofa or chair and one draped
at the foot of the bed. No need to hunt
in the linen closet when you’re chilly right now.
6. Use a boot
tray at your family’s home entrance to store outdoor shoes too dirty to
return to the closets. No piling or
tracking necessary.
7. Fold trash
bags and keep a few in the base of each trash bin. When the full one comes out, the replacement
is right there in the bottom, ready for placement.
8. Arrange your kitchen cabinet contents for WHERE you use the items. Plates closest to the table, mugs closest to
the coffee maker, glasses closest to the ice maker, and bakeware closest to the
oven all mean ease of use when cooking and cleaning up.
9. Be mindful of refills before you actually need to restock items like toilet
paper, paper towels, cosmetics, cleaning products, detergents, and so
forth. Always have the backup ready to
go by keeping a running list and replenishing when a supply dips below half,
not when it’s running on empty.
10. When you have a series of products to use, arrangement them in order of use from
left to right for expedited, one-after-the-other grab-and-go. Think about your arrangement of products in
the shower, in the bathroom drawer, and in the laundry room cabinet. Chronological structure can be the change you
need to simplify.In.Just.About.Every.Room.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 28th.
