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DENA'S TROPICAL HOME SOLUTIONS

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Hurricane season always makes me think about how to store my stuff so it won't get wet. It also reminds me that I probably have too much stuff.
Eliminate
The first solution to storage is elimination. Consider each item you are want to store and ask yourself whether you have used this item in the last year. If not, consider donating it to charity. I'm a pack rat by nature, so I understand if this is difficult for you. So how do I get motivated?
Inventory the space
I inventory the available space and the amount of that space I need for everyday items. The space left over is for the seldom-used items. There's never enough space. The solution is to discover how to increase the storage space without adding on to your home or moving to a larger one.
Create space
Look up. Yes, toward the ceiling. I had cabinets built above the vanity area as well as below it in the bathroom.
Look at your kitchen–is there a wasted space above your cabinets? Use it. If you don't want to have something built, use baskets. They are decorative as well as practical.
Examine your closets–one rod and a shelve above it? Look at organizers readily available on island to use the space more efficiently.
Have a wall to decorate? Shelving units are a great way to decorate and store items. Glass shelved door on some shelves are especially good for protecting delicate items. Each foot of floor space can hold an abundance of books and other treasures if the space is used vertically.
Look at your furniture. Each item should be examined for potential as a dual-purpose item. Tables standing on long legs waste space. Substitute tables containing cabinets or drawers or baskets which slide in and out. Test them for ease of opening–wood swells in the tropics. Hardwoods, such as mahogany, teak, and cherry, wear well here because termites don't eat them. Avoid soft woods.
When purchasing storage containers, remember to protect against moisture and water which may stand on your floor during a storm. A container which is going to sit on the floor should be on short legs or be plastic or have a plastic liner. I store shoes and handbags in hanging plastic bags designed for that purpose. The type with a clear plastic front and a zipper lets me see at a glance what is on each shelf.
If closet space is insufficient, I use baskets as furniture, lining them with heavy-duty plastic bags to protect against moisture and dust before storing items in them. Baskets are readily available here and can be used for coffee tables, end tables, stacked or alone. I have my garden tools and spare pots in two baskets, one stacked on the other, next to a living room chair. The baskets double as a side table for the chair and they are located three steps from the door to the deck.
Inventory the stuff
My memory is not what it used to be. If an item is one I need only occasionally, I write it down on a list for seldom-used items. I keep a list of what I put in those spaces, so I don't have to search everywhere when I want them. I consult the list when I am finished with them, put them back in the same place, or note the new place on the list. I store them in places which are hard to reach, such as upper shelves in a closet or cabinet, or plastic storage bins vertically stacked in a closet.
Please share your ideas for storing your stuff and making it look beautiful.
Have a question or a want to share a solution? Send it to [email protected]. Please address email to Dena's Solutions.

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