Modern Living Room Tiles

Modern Living Room Tiles

 Photo Courtesy: [BakiBG/Getty Images]

There are many wonderful things about getting older, but going through the aging process also means you might start experiencing bodily fatigue, achy muscles and joint pain more often than you used to. Because of this, you might have difficulty moving and exercising. But you don't have to let that slow you down. It's vital for older adults to get regular physical activity — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity — but what if you want to gently ease into more movement without exacerbating aches and pains?

One way to get started is to practice chair yoga. Chair yoga exercises are a perfect way for you to stretch and get moving, all while you're safely seated in a chair — no need to get down onto the floor. This type of yoga can help loosen your muscles, improve circulation, build strength and even relieve stress. Even better? You can do it any time from the comfort of your own home.

Photo Courtesy: [SilviaJansen/E+/Getty Images]

Chair yoga, or sitting yoga, for seniors is a modified version of traditional hatha yoga to help relieve body aches and stay healthy in a safe and accessible way. Hatha yoga is a form of this type of exercise that's more gentle and more slowly paced with a focus on stretching and breathing. It's ideal for anyone who lives with pain that could make more complex yoga poses difficult, such as chronic pain, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, chair yoga can also be ideal for people who spend long hours sitting in a chair.

Many seniors find their lives become sedentary with each passing year because movement may become more tiring, uncomfortable or painful. Practicing chair yoga regularly can provide a way to prevent or relieve those issues. It's a low-impact way to get the blood in your body flowing and stretch your muscles.

In terms of equipment, all you need for chair yoga is a stable, armless chair. Make sure the chair is resting on a flat, stable surface and that you're wearing comfortable clothes that allow for a generous range of motion. Chair yoga can also be ideal if you're a wheelchair user.

Benefits of Chair Yoga for Seniors

 Photo Courtesy: [RyanJLane/Getty Images]

Getting regular exercise can add years to your life and slow the aging process. However, many types of exercise can become more difficult to perform with age. High-impact exercises like weightlifting, running and other types of intense cardio can be particularly hard on your joints and muscles. Chair yoga provides a way to get your body moving without stressing your joints with hard impacts like running does. Practicing chair yoga for 20-30 minutes per session several times a week can provide significant health benefits.

First of all, it can help manage and reduce pain. One recent study from the Journal of American Geriatrics Society found that chair yoga effectively helped relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis. Furthermore, chair yoga involves stretching the neck, upper back, lower back, shoulders, arms, legs, knees and ankles without much impact on the joints. This not only reduces stiffness, tension and pain, but it can also help to improve mobility in the long run.

Another potential benefit is improved flexibility, which can make it easier to perform regular movements as you go about your everyday routine. Being flexible also can improve muscle coordination and posture and lower the risk of future muscle soreness and injuries. Chair yoga helps improve your strength and balance as well, meaning falls become a lot less likely. Having a strong body also increases your ability to withstand injury.

Chair yoga even has benefits for your mental wellbeing. As with traditional yoga, chair yoga involves a lot of deep breathing, which can help clear your mind similarly to meditation. This often results in reduced stress, a better mood, less anxiety and a calmer state of mind.

Try These Great Chair Yoga Routines

 Photo Courtesy: [Fitness With Cindy/YouTube]

There's no need to leave your home, join a gym or go to chair yoga classes at a fitness studio — plenty of outstanding chair yoga routines are available online. Some are written out with pictures, while others are instructional video workouts you can follow along with.

If you're unsure about the idea of following along with a chair yoga video, you can simply make your own routine consisting of exercises sitting in a chair. Here are some great options for all skill levels:

The Forward Bend Pose involves bending over so your chest is resting on your thighs and your hands are reaching towards the floor. If you can, place your palms fully on the floor. To get the most out of this stretch, hold for 30 seconds or more, taking slow, long, deep breaths.

The Chair Pigeon Pose is another great chair yoga stretch. Sitting up straight with your knees aligned above your ankles, bring your left ankle to your right thigh. If you can, try bending forward as low as possible to make the stretch more intense. Hold here for several deep breaths before doing the same pose with the opposite leg.

For the Chair Spinal Twist, begin by sitting sideways on your chair facing right. Twist your torso to the right while grabbing the back of the chair with both hands to anchor yourself in that position. Stay here for several deep breaths. Then, switch to the left side.

The simple Overhead Stretch starts with you sitting up straight in your chair, facing forward with your arms relaxed and hanging by your sides. As you take a deep breath in, slowly begin to raise your arms up towards the ceiling. Once they're fully extended upward, take a moment to engage your core and ensure your back is straight. Hold this position for a few seconds. Let out a long exhale while slowly lowering your arms back down. Repeat this a few more times.

You might find it easier and more convenient to follow an exercise video routine that provides instructions and demonstrates the different positions for you. There are plenty of free chair yoga classes and routines for seniors to choose from. Here are some that come highly recommended:

• Chair Yoga for Seniors With Adriene: Adriene is a master of making yoga fun and easy for everyone. In this 17-minute chair yoga video, she guides you through the moves slowly and clearly so that it's easy to follow along and enjoy learning the basics.
• Gentle Chair Yoga With Mary Beth Kealy: This gentle, stimulating 41-minute chair yoga practice is great if you want to spend a little bit of extra time stretching. The background of the video incorporates soothing, meditative music to make the experience especially relaxing.
• Chair Yoga for Lower Back Pain With Cindy: Cindy walks you through 18 minutes of sitting yoga for seniors. The stretches are specifically designed to ease lower back pain while helping you build strength at the same time.

Resource Links:

https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/older_adults/index.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410195/

https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/move/exercise-is-key-to-living-longer

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28008603/

MORE FROM SYMPTOMFIND.COM

Modern Living Room Tiles

Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/chair-yoga-for-seniors?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

Bigger Bedroom Or Bigger Living Room

Bigger Bedroom Or Bigger Living Room

As a former New Yorker and current owner of a wee Cape Cod cottage, I am quite familiar with both the charm and challenges of small spaces. When done well, they can feel like cozy, Zen-like retreats. But often when you have to cram all your worldly possessions into one tiny space, the results can feel cramped, claustrophobic, and anything but restful. Achieving the former instead of the latter takes some conscious effort.

The good news is that the key to successful small-space living might be easier than you think. It all boils down to tricking the eye into perceiving more space by employing three simple concepts: scale, light, and movement.

1. Scale it down.

Above: At Harbor Cottage in Maine, all the furniture, even the woodstove, has been downsized to fit the small living area. Photograph by Justine Hand from A Cottage Reborn in Coastal Maine.

Furniture for the small space is all about proportions. Simply put, if a piece brushes up against the boundaries of the room, either up and down or sideways, it's too large. To create a sense of roominess, always leave a little air in between the sides of your furniture and the walls. (The one exception is a bed; a queen placed between two walls, for instance, creates a cozy sleeping cave.)

Also avoid heavy, weighty pieces that eat up too much of the usable space in the room. For example, a sleek sofa or chair will give you as much sitting room as its overstuffed cousin but will take up much less of your room. If you long for a large, statement piece (a piece of art or mirror), hang it on the wall. Don't consume valuable living space by putting it on the floor.

2. Keep a low profile.

Above: Designer Corinne Gilbert uses low-slung pieces to create an open feel in her living room. Also, notice that the mirrors are hung low so that they "relate" to the sofa. Photograph by Matthew Williams fromRemodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

Furniture that is lower to the ground will create a feeling of openness in a room simply by the fact that they leave more space above them. In the bedroom, choose a loft bed or even try placing a mattress directly on the floor. In the living room, embrace your inner Mad Men style with low-to-the-ground midcentury pieces. Or, if your tastes run more toward the romantic and ornate, 19th-century furniture also has a low profile.

Above: Designer Michaela Scherrer's bed feels spacious even though the bed takes up most of the room. That's because both her bed and the art on the walls are positioned toward the lower half of the room, leaving the upper half virtually empty. The single bulb hanging from the ceiling also serves to emphasize the height of the room. Photograph by Matthew Williams fromRemodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

3. Show a little leg with lithe furniture.

Above: The Hudson Valley retreat of Workstead's Robert Highsmith and Stefanie Brechbuehler is short on space and long on charm. To maximize the sense of light and air, the design duo employed leggy and lithe furniture and fixtures. Photograph by Matthew Williams fromRemodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

Again, creating the illusion of more space is all about creating a sense of openness and movement. Furniture that is streamlined allows light and air to flow not just over but also under and around it, so that it appears to float in space. Again, think midcentury modern pieces, which are both low and leggy. Or consider the perfect piece of soaring furniture: the butterfly chair. (See Object Lesson: The Classic Butterfly Chair.)

As we saw with mirrors, it's all about tricking the eye. Curtains stop the eye from taking in the view outside, even if they don't cover the whole window. And drapes and curtains just add more "stuff" to the room. Eliminating them keeps the space simple. If you want privacy, consider shutters or lightweight mesh or cloth blinds. Or if curtains are a must for you, use a bar that extends far beyond the window frame, so you can fully expose the window.

Ditto rugs. Cast your eye over all the small spaces in this article. Note how few have rugs or, if they do, how simple and minimal they are.

Above: In my own Cape Cod cottage, note how with the absence of curtains, the eye is drawn right through several rooms and out the window beyond. Photograph by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

6. White it out.

Above: In the renovation of a Montauk beach house, Brooklyn architects Space Exploration painted the entire house in Benjamin Moore's Super White, with a flat finish on the walls and satin on the ceilings. Photograph courtesy of Space Exploration from our post The Simple Life: A Montauk Beach House for a Creative Couple.

We all know of white's reflective qualities. It opens up a room, making it feel airy and light, calm and serene. Painting the walls and ceiling the same shade of white only enhances this cloud-like effect. And it serves to blur the boundaries between wall and celling, causing your eye to travel up, essentially making the ceiling seem higher. Finally, in small spaces that can quickly become cluttered looking, white is a good choice because it simplifies a space and emphasizes the architecture. (That's why architects love it so much. See 10 Easy Pieces: Architect's White Paint Picks.)

If you're worried that an all-white space will feel too cold, then pair it with warming elements such as wood, or textured elements, such as a shaggy wool throw. And remember that you don't have choose a stark white. (See Remodeling 101: How to Choose the Perfect White Paint.)

7. Emphasize the vertical.

Above: Christien Starkenburg, a furniture designer in the Netherlands, uses vertical wood paneling to emphasize the height of her small kitchen and dining area. Photograph courtesy of Anna de Leeuw from our post Kitchen of the Week: The Curtained Kitchen, Dutch Modern Edition.

Whether it's a tall shelf, some vertical shiplap, or the bare hanging bulb we saw in Michaela Scherrer's bedroom above, employing one element that emphasizes the vertical space in the room will increase the sense of openness. It also enhances the feeling of movement and flow.

Above: In her wee bath, clothing designer Dagmar Daley ditched her curtains, used all white to maximize the sense of light and air, and she used vertical elements, wainscoting and a shower curtain, to emphasize the height of the room. Photograph by Matthew Williams from Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

8. Emphasize the horizontal.

Above: In this bedroom, designer Tiina Laakonen ran horizontal shiplap right up the walls and ceiling. The effect is a seamless transition from wall to ceiling that emphasizes the height and the width of the room. Note also that the curtains are pushed to the side to frame the view. Photograph by Matthew Williams fromRemodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

It all boils down to creating a sense of movement. Like the leggy furniture that creates a sense of dynamism, or the mirrors that reflect light and a view back into the room, anything that causes your eye to travel around a room in an intentional and orderly fashion will make it feel larger. (I say "international and orderly" because a cluttered room with lots of distracting elements will also cause your eye to travel, but in a haphazard fashion.

9. Clear a pathway.

Above: In her Napa Valley bungalow, Remodelista's Sarah Lonsdale cleared a path in her dining room by setting the table to one side rather than at the center of the room. Photograph by Matthew Williams fromRemodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

When dealing with a small room, one naturally wants to maximize the space by pushing all the pieces to the edges. But if this causes you to bump into things, it can enhance a claustrophobic feel. Sometimes it is better to group the furniture on one side of the room, so people can pass through unhindered.

10. Use breezy fabrics.

Above: To maximize the open, airy feeling of this cozy apartment in Mainz, in western Germany, Lea Korzeczek and Matthias Hiller of Studio Oink employed the reflective power of white floors coupled with breezy, lightweight fabrics. Photograph courtesy of Studio Oink from Earthly and Ethereal: An Apartment Makeover by Studio Oink.

If possible, avoid heavy materials and fabrics that absorb light and weigh your room down. Linen is a perfect example of a lightweight material that will increase the sense of airiness in the room.

11. Above all, keep it simple.

Above: As demonstrated in landscape designer Emily Erlam's home in Norfolk, keeping your palette and furniture to a minimum serves to create an open feel. Photograph courtesy of Ionana Marinescu from A Rural Remodel in Norfolk, Tithe Barn and Piggery Included.

Small spaces are all about editing. The more pieces, possessions, and patterns you have in a room, the more cluttered it will feel. Avoid too many knickknacks or at least group them so they read as an installation. Ditto with art; concentrate your framed pieces on one or two walls. Avoid busy patterns and overwhelming colors. Or, if you absolutely must have that William Morris–esque wallpaper, consider placing it on one accent wall. Same with color, try painting just one wall or a door and stick to a single shade. Now is not the time to embrace the whole spectrum.

The bottom line is you need to be strict with yourself (actually, this concept applies to all spaces) and intentional about everything that goes into the room. If you go for the wallpaper accent wall, then keep the rest of the room simple. If you need that huge oil painting in your living room, try having it be the only art in the room.

Above: The bare bones treatment of this bedroom by Father Rabbit Limited turns a small space into a restful retreat. Photograph courtesy of Father Rabbit from Shopper's Diary: Father Rabbit Finds a New Home.

Looking for more small-space and other design solutions? See:

• Expert Advice: 10 Secrets for Living in a Small Space
• Christine's House: Living Small in London

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on December 28, 2015.

Bigger Bedroom Or Bigger Living Room

Source: https://www.remodelista.com/posts/how-to-make-a-room-look-bigger-11-expert-tips/

Pier One Living Room Chairs

Pier One Living Room Chairs

 Photo Courtesy: [BakiBG/Getty Images]

There are many wonderful things about getting older, but going through the aging process also means you might start experiencing bodily fatigue, achy muscles and joint pain more often than you used to. Because of this, you might have difficulty moving and exercising. But you don't have to let that slow you down. It's vital for older adults to get regular physical activity — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity — but what if you want to gently ease into more movement without exacerbating aches and pains?

One way to get started is to practice chair yoga. Chair yoga exercises are a perfect way for you to stretch and get moving, all while you're safely seated in a chair — no need to get down onto the floor. This type of yoga can help loosen your muscles, improve circulation, build strength and even relieve stress. Even better? You can do it any time from the comfort of your own home.

Photo Courtesy: [SilviaJansen/E+/Getty Images]

Chair yoga, or sitting yoga, for seniors is a modified version of traditional hatha yoga to help relieve body aches and stay healthy in a safe and accessible way. Hatha yoga is a form of this type of exercise that's more gentle and more slowly paced with a focus on stretching and breathing. It's ideal for anyone who lives with pain that could make more complex yoga poses difficult, such as chronic pain, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, chair yoga can also be ideal for people who spend long hours sitting in a chair.

Many seniors find their lives become sedentary with each passing year because movement may become more tiring, uncomfortable or painful. Practicing chair yoga regularly can provide a way to prevent or relieve those issues. It's a low-impact way to get the blood in your body flowing and stretch your muscles.

In terms of equipment, all you need for chair yoga is a stable, armless chair. Make sure the chair is resting on a flat, stable surface and that you're wearing comfortable clothes that allow for a generous range of motion. Chair yoga can also be ideal if you're a wheelchair user.

Benefits of Chair Yoga for Seniors

 Photo Courtesy: [RyanJLane/Getty Images]

Getting regular exercise can add years to your life and slow the aging process. However, many types of exercise can become more difficult to perform with age. High-impact exercises like weightlifting, running and other types of intense cardio can be particularly hard on your joints and muscles. Chair yoga provides a way to get your body moving without stressing your joints with hard impacts like running does. Practicing chair yoga for 20-30 minutes per session several times a week can provide significant health benefits.

First of all, it can help manage and reduce pain. One recent study from the Journal of American Geriatrics Society found that chair yoga effectively helped relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis. Furthermore, chair yoga involves stretching the neck, upper back, lower back, shoulders, arms, legs, knees and ankles without much impact on the joints. This not only reduces stiffness, tension and pain, but it can also help to improve mobility in the long run.

Another potential benefit is improved flexibility, which can make it easier to perform regular movements as you go about your everyday routine. Being flexible also can improve muscle coordination and posture and lower the risk of future muscle soreness and injuries. Chair yoga helps improve your strength and balance as well, meaning falls become a lot less likely. Having a strong body also increases your ability to withstand injury.

Chair yoga even has benefits for your mental wellbeing. As with traditional yoga, chair yoga involves a lot of deep breathing, which can help clear your mind similarly to meditation. This often results in reduced stress, a better mood, less anxiety and a calmer state of mind.

Try These Great Chair Yoga Routines

 Photo Courtesy: [Fitness With Cindy/YouTube]

There's no need to leave your home, join a gym or go to chair yoga classes at a fitness studio — plenty of outstanding chair yoga routines are available online. Some are written out with pictures, while others are instructional video workouts you can follow along with.

If you're unsure about the idea of following along with a chair yoga video, you can simply make your own routine consisting of exercises sitting in a chair. Here are some great options for all skill levels:

The Forward Bend Pose involves bending over so your chest is resting on your thighs and your hands are reaching towards the floor. If you can, place your palms fully on the floor. To get the most out of this stretch, hold for 30 seconds or more, taking slow, long, deep breaths.

The Chair Pigeon Pose is another great chair yoga stretch. Sitting up straight with your knees aligned above your ankles, bring your left ankle to your right thigh. If you can, try bending forward as low as possible to make the stretch more intense. Hold here for several deep breaths before doing the same pose with the opposite leg.

For the Chair Spinal Twist, begin by sitting sideways on your chair facing right. Twist your torso to the right while grabbing the back of the chair with both hands to anchor yourself in that position. Stay here for several deep breaths. Then, switch to the left side.

The simple Overhead Stretch starts with you sitting up straight in your chair, facing forward with your arms relaxed and hanging by your sides. As you take a deep breath in, slowly begin to raise your arms up towards the ceiling. Once they're fully extended upward, take a moment to engage your core and ensure your back is straight. Hold this position for a few seconds. Let out a long exhale while slowly lowering your arms back down. Repeat this a few more times.

You might find it easier and more convenient to follow an exercise video routine that provides instructions and demonstrates the different positions for you. There are plenty of free chair yoga classes and routines for seniors to choose from. Here are some that come highly recommended:

• Chair Yoga for Seniors With Adriene: Adriene is a master of making yoga fun and easy for everyone. In this 17-minute chair yoga video, she guides you through the moves slowly and clearly so that it's easy to follow along and enjoy learning the basics.
• Gentle Chair Yoga With Mary Beth Kealy: This gentle, stimulating 41-minute chair yoga practice is great if you want to spend a little bit of extra time stretching. The background of the video incorporates soothing, meditative music to make the experience especially relaxing.
• Chair Yoga for Lower Back Pain With Cindy: Cindy walks you through 18 minutes of sitting yoga for seniors. The stretches are specifically designed to ease lower back pain while helping you build strength at the same time.

Resource Links:

https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/older_adults/index.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410195/

https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/move/exercise-is-key-to-living-longer

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28008603/

MORE FROM SYMPTOMFIND.COM

Pier One Living Room Chairs

Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/chair-yoga-for-seniors?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

Typical Living Room Size

Typical Living Room Size

30 Tips for Living Large in a Small Space

Photo Courtesy: Gabriel Beaudry/Unsplash

A small living space can still be stylish. All you need are the perfect products and accessories to liven up your studio or one-bedroom apartment, while maximizing your space. Of course, efficiency and comfort are important as well, and don't worry — we haven't forgotten your tiny kitchen and bathroom. Here are 30 products that will help you live large in your small space.

Get Creative with Storage Space in Your Bedroom

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

If you don't have a lot of closet space, you can always put things under your bed — unless, of course, your frame sits too low to the floor. If that's the case, it's time to place DuraCasa's bed risers under the legs to gain an additional boost of 3 inches of space for boxes, suitcases and anything else you want to keep hidden away. The risers are built to hold up to 2,000 pounds distributed across your bed.

"This is exactly what I was looking for," says one satisfied Amazon customer. Others praise the risers as "sturdy" and "nice and thick and strong." Something worth noting: A few people say the risers don't always stay put on hardwood floors.

Don't Just Throw Everything Under the Bed

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

StorageLAB's shoe organizer can help you keep shoes tucked away in an orderly fashion. With two of these containers, you can pack up to 24 pairs of shoes and adjust the size of the compartments to accommodate larger shoes or shoes with long heels. This handy organizer is also great for scarves, gloves and numerous other things.

"I wanted something that looks good and keeps its shape," says one reviewer. The firm siding on these containers ensures they hold their form, and handles make it easy to pull the unit out from under the bed. The clear zippered top allows you to easily find the shoes you want. "An A++ for design!" raves another happy owner.

When You Don't Have Room for a Nightstand

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

Sauder's Orchard Hills bookcase headboard fits a queen-size bed frame snugly or leaves a bit of space on each side for a full. Constructed of "very sturdy" particle board, the headboard attaches directly to the rails of your frame, providing additional stability while taking up minimum floor space.

It arrives unassembled, and although reviewers say it is "easy to put together," many also mentioned that the package is quite heavy and hard to move from the front door to the bedroom. Once the headboard is put together, however, you have plenty of room for an alarm clock, reading lamp, a stash of books (or a reading device) and stuffed animals or room decor.

The Extra Fancy Bed Storage Space Solution

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

If throwing boxes under a regular bed frame feels too basic, take a look at the Dakota platform bed with drawers from DHP. It sits on an elegant frame, with an upholstered headboard and two drawers on each side, allowing you to store just about anything in an orderly, efficient manner.

"We were concerned about the sturdiness," one reviewer admits, "but were quickly relieved once the bed was tested." Others praise the easy-to-follow assembly instructions, and one reviewer is particularly fond of the time it saves on cleaning, noting, "There's no space under the beds for dust bunnies to gather."

A Small but Powerful Vacuum Cleaner

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

The 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner from VonHaus is "not much larger than a broom," but it has more than enough power to keep your entire place clean. You can go over all your floors, just like any other vacuum cleaner, or you can remove the floor vacuum head to turn it into a handheld for cleaning furniture and spills on tables and countertops. When you're finished, just detach the container and throw away the dust and debris.

"I can't believe how good the suction is on this little vacuum," says one buyer. Other owners are delighted with its light weight and small size for easy storage. Several, however, suggest the filters need to be cleaned more frequently than the once-a-month routine VonHaus recommends.

A Classic Modern Storage Solution

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

Over the door shoe organizers like the one from MISSLO have become classic features in modern home storage design — so simple and obvious, once you think about it. Of course, many people use them for more than shoes. "I have one in my linen closet that I use for medicines, lotions, extra toothpaste, special hair creams — you name it," one reviewer reports. "I've gained an entire shelf for towels."

The organizer is "easy to hang," with four metal hooks that fit most standard-sized doors. Once in place, "It doesn't slip or slide around," and the 24 large mesh pockets can hold 12 pairs of shoes easily — more if the shoes happen to be sandals!

Keep Your Drawers in Order

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

"No matter how neatly I fold my bras and underwear," one reviewer complains, "they always seem to become a big jumble in the drawer." The solution? Simple Houseware's organizer set comes with four cases designed to hold ties, scarves, underwear, bras or socks in individual compartments, allowing you to easily spot items at a glance.

No more losing a favorite pair of socks in the back of the drawer, where it could stay buried indefinitely. "My only complaint," one reviewer says, "is that I would like to be able to get another 24-compartment organizer without having to buy the whole set."

Create Shelf Space in Your Closet

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

The hanging closet organizer from Simple Houseware is "easy to set up and super lightweight, but extremely durable," according to a satisfied buyer. When hung on the clothing rod in your closet, the fabric drops down to reveal five shelves, with an extra three pockets on each side.

You can put a lot of weight on the shelves, including jeans, sweaters, bath towels, bed sheets and pillow covers. (The lower compartments can even hold heavy boots.) This organizer is "the hardiest I've seen," says one reviewer, adding, "It does not strain at all."

Store All Your Jewelry in One Place

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

Are you constantly hunting through several different boxes on top of your dresser to find the necklace or pair of earrings you need to match an outfit? Maybe you need AOOU's jewelry cabinet and dressing mirror combo. The full-length mirror on the front opens to reveal enough storage space (including hooks) for just about any jewelry collection, with additional shelves for makeup and perfume.

"It is made well, very sturdy and hangs very neatly on my closet door," one reviewer says. (It can be wall-mounted as well.) Magnets keep the door securely shut, and a set of blue LED lights along the top light up when the door opens, making it easy to find what you need.

Take All the Hassle Out of Laundry Day

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

When floor space is at a premium, a full-sized hamper can be a bulky eye-sore. Smart Design's pop-up hamper can sit unobtrusively next to your dresser or tucked away in the closet. The mesh siding allows damp and sweaty clothes to dry faster, reducing the risk of funky odors.

"These hold waaay more than I thought they would!" exclaims one reviewer — enough to do two loads of laundry in a single trip, in fact. Plus, when laundry day does come around, the sturdy handles make it easy to carry, and there are side pockets for detergent and fabric softener.

It's a Lamp! It's a Display Case!

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

The Etagere floor lamp with shelves from Simple Designs Home is the sort of thing you never think about until somebody points it out — then you can't get over what a great idea it is. It's a floor lamp that stands just over 5 feet high and features sleek, sophisticated lines, but it also sports three shelves perfectly spaced for holding a telephone, small planter, cherished figurines and more. In the bedroom, it could easily double as a nightstand and a reading light.

"It took me all of 15 minutes to assemble by myself," one reviewer reports, adding that you need to have a Phillips screwdriver on hand. "You can't go wrong with this one," another reviewer adds. "It really does bring the room together." Some owners, however, note that the electrical cord can dangle awkwardly down the length of the lamp stand.

You Can't Go Wrong with a Good Rug

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

Home Dynamix offers a variety of rugs that feature soft, Persian-inspired decorative motifs in neutral colors. The Royal Clover contemporary rug is one example that blends nicely with nearly any decor. Whether you're looking for an area rug to pull the living room together, a runner for the hall or a small round rug for the bedroom, the company offers the size you need.

Many reviewers are delighted with how easily these rugs can be cleaned, with many stains coming out using only a damp cloth and some spray. "They vacuum really well," a reviewer adds, even in a household with multiple pets.

It's Okay to Drink on the Sofa Now

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

If you're watching TV and you want to enjoy a drink but don't have a coffee table, what do you do? Maybe it's time to consider the CoachCoaster, a gadget that fits easily over the arm of your sofa or armchair to provide a secure base for everything from beer cans to coffee mugs.

The sleeve is weighted on both sides for stability, and the drink holder keeps containers firmly in place — even if you accidentally brush it with your arm. (Although one reviewer did mention that it's still vulnerable to jumping cats.)

No More TV Dinner Trays

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

Maybe you'd like to have something to eat while you're watching the big game. You could put your plate on the coffee table and bend over to eat, or you could hold your plate and risk spilling food on the couch. Sauder's lift-top coffee table offers a better solution. The table top is actually a lid that raises several inches and slides forward, allowing you to eat — or work — comfortably on the couch with the top in front of you. Underneath, the table has plenty of storage space that is perfect for stashing items you don't want out in the open.

Reviewers describe this coffee table as "very sturdy and heavy." They also recommend you have somebody on hand to help you put it together.

The Comfortable Way to Sit Up in Bed

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Do you spend a lot of time hanging out in your bedroom — reading, watching a movie on your tablet or checking on social media? You could jam a bunch of pillows against your headboard or wall to support your back — or you could get the ComfortSpa reading pillow. A comfortable 18 inches high, the foam pillow provides excellent back support.

"This helps me feel like I'm more laying on the couch than in bed," says one happy reviewer. "It's very comfortable, no matter how you lay on it!" The armrests even have pockets so you don't have to leave your glasses or smartphone on the bed, where they could be crushed if you roll over.

The Comfortable Way to Work on Your Lap

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They call it a laptop computer, but have you ever tried actually holding one in your lap? They sit uncomfortably, and you have to keep your head bent to read the screen, potentially causing back and neck pain. The adjustable laptop desk from Mind Reader takes care of several problems. It's cushioned along the bottom, so it rests comfortably and smoothly on your legs. The smooth plastic surface can be adjusted to eight different angles, accommodating whatever position you choose, from sitting up to lying on the couch.

Although it's designed to work with laptops and tablets — and comes with a clip to keep them from sliding off when the desk is angled — it also makes an excellent writing desk. "No more hunching over for long periods!" one buyer says. Many note the plastic material is thin but say it's more than sturdy enough to hold various electronic devices, even a thick hardcover book.

Start Your Wine Collection in Style

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Maybe you want to be a wine connoisseur — but you can't find anywhere in your cramped kitchen to store more than one bottle. Take a look at the Sorbus wall-mounted wine rack. Many customers describe the rack as "easy to install," although they also recommend that you use longer mounting screws than the screws that come with the product, especially if you're hanging it on drywall.

Once it's on the wall, people love the "clean, functional, simple design" of the metal rack, which holds up to nine normal-sized wine bottles securely. If you're not a wine drinker, you can also use it for cooking oils or set it up in the bathroom as a towel rack.

Plan Everything Out on Your Fridge

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"We have almost always had a white board on our refrigerator for grocery lists and messages," says one consumer. Another says the magnetic whiteboard from cinch! is "the absolute best one we have ever had." It comes in two sizes (17 inches by 11inches and 20 inches by 13 inches) and includes markers — also magnetized to stick to your fridge — in four different colors.

The dry erase board cleans easily, even if you leave something written on it for a month, and the thin design, with "clean and smooth" edging, means it blends seamlessly on a white refrigerator, an effect another buyer describes as "almost disconcerting!"

Declutter Your Pots and Pans

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Are you fed up with taking every pan you own out of the cabinet to get to the one pan you need? Maybe it's time to get rid of your frustration with the Simple Houseware pan rack organizer. Place the rack on its side to hold four pans in a row, or stack five pans horizontally without worrying about scratching them.

"You could not even see the bottom of my cabinet before," one reviewer says, but the unit still leaves rooms for pots in many cases. The racks are strong enough to hold heavy cast iron pans, although deep frying pans will only fit on top. It can also be screwed into the cabinet wall or the bottom for additional stability.

Give Your Pantry a Simple, Streamlined Look

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One of the biggest problems with keeping your kitchen organized is everything comes in different size boxes and bags, forcing you to create improvised pyramids on your pantry shelves. DRAGONN's 10-piece airtight food storage containers set offers an elegant alternative, with containers in a variety of sizes to handle everything from spices to spaghetti.

Shoppers praise the containers as "high quality and very durable" and note they also look great on the kitchen counter and are easily hand washable. The airtight seals keep everything fresh and dry and are an excellent deterrent against ants and other insects that could invade your kitchen.

Have You Ever Looked Under Your Sink?

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When it comes to kitchen storage, the cabinet under the sink is the space most people don't like to think about. It's easy to just throw all the bottles of different cleaners in there and slam the door, but the adjustable shelf organizer from STORAGE MANIAC offers a better solution. You can return order to the chaos and make it easy to find what you need when you need it.

Reviewers say this two-shelf unit is "very well made," noting that the length is adjustable to fit the size of your cabinet. The shelf's surface consists of steel panels, which can also be moved to make space for the sink's pipes. "Under my kitchen sink looks wonderful now!" one owner declares. It's also perfect for under your bathroom vanity.

Use Your Kitchen Wall to Establish Mise en Place

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Great chefs run their kitchens with an impeccable sense of mise en place — the principle that positions everything exactly where you need it before you start so you can prepare any dish smoothly and efficiently. An empty kitchen wall provides a big opportunity to pull essentials together in one easily accessible spot — with the help of Wall Control's pegboard organizer.

It's the same kind of metal pegboard you might use to hang tools on the wall over a workbench, which ensures the board is sturdy enough to hold even your heaviest pans. "If you want something that will last a lifetime," says one reviewer, "then I highly recommend Wall Control boards." You can choose from a range of colors.

A Colorful Foundation for Food Prep

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A well-stocked kitchen needs an assortment of mixing bowls and measuring tools.

Joseph Joseph's nine-piece set features all the basics, including four measuring cups and a tablespoon. The set is made of colorful plastic that will brighten up any kitchen, and the bowls don't lose their sheen, even after multiple trips through the dishwasher.

The mixing bowls are extremely sturdy, with no-slip bottoms. "On family movie night," one reviewer reports, "three bags of microwave popcorn fit in the large mixing bowl." The small mixing bowl can hold a dozen eggs at once, with no problem.

Get All Your Spices in Order

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The hard part of becoming a more adventurous home cook isn't finding unique ingredients — it's keeping track of them once you pack them away in your pantry. YouCopia's Chef's Edition SpiceStack has drawers that slide out from their frame and tilt forward so you can view the contents at a glance. There's enough room for up to 30 regular-sized spice bottles.

Reviewers call the SpiceStack "a total dream," praising the "sturdy plastic drawers" for their "amazing spice storage." It even comes with blank and preprinted labels for the front of the drawers if you want to take immediate stock of your inventory.

You've Got to Hide Your Knives Away

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When you've got a small kitchen counter, a chunky knife block can take up a lot of valuable space. Wusthof's under-the-cabinet knife block is the perfect solution, giving you easy access to eight knives (and a honing steel), then swiveling out of the way when you're done.

The beechwood block screws into the underside of a kitchen cabinet with just three screws, and many reviewers describe it as "very solid" and "excellently detailed with a smooth finish." They also note that the knives are held in their slots magnetically, but "they will fly out if you're not careful." Then again, you would always be careful with knives, right?

No More Fumbling for the Conditioner

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"This shower caddy is epic!" raves one user who bought Simple Houseware's hanging shower head organizer. It has a deep basket for shampoo, conditioner and other bottles, with a shelf beneath that can hold razors, sponges and bars of soap, plus hangers for a loofah or a back brush.

When you don't have a window ledge next to your shower or space in the corners of your tub to hold stuff, just hang this caddy over your shower head to keep everything in reach. Other customers praise it as "super sturdy" and "very stable... exactly what my husband and I needed."

Making Bath Time Lots of Fun

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If you don't feel comfortable hanging a caddy on your shower head, you can always try the mesh shower curtain organizer from Yihoon. It hangs securely on your shower rod or towel rack and has mesh pockets big enough to hold everything you need, from washcloths to shampoo bottles.

"We have a small shower, and I hate the look of bottles all over the place," says one reviewer. This organizer offers an ideal solution. The mesh pockets dry quickly, and you can always throw it in the washer if it gets a little funky.

Keep Your Cool — and Your Quiet

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In a small room, every inch of floor space counts. Bulky fans take up too much room — and usually make too much noise. Lasko's oscillating tower fan stands discreetly in a small space and boasts a woodgrain finish that blends in with most decors.

More importantly, as one reviewer observes, "It's quieter than any tower fan I've ever owned," even at its highest speeds. A remote control allows you to change settings without getting up, and a nighttime mode allows you to slowly taper from high to low while you drift off to sleep.

So Many Cables. So. Many. Cables.

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The TV, the cable box, the DVD player, the video game console, the high-speed modem, the base for the wireless phone — you've got tons of devices to plug in and very few outlets. Belkin's 12-outlet power strip and surge protector can help you keep everything up and running.

The power strip has six outlets running down the middle and another three on each side, especially designed to hold those oversized power adaptors that always cause you to lose the adjoining outlet on normal power strips. The internal circuitry can even gauge how much power each device is using and spread the voltage accordingly. "If I need more power bars in the future," says one satisfied reviewer, "these are what I will buy."

Get All Those Cords Out of Sight

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Even if you have a power strip big enough to handle all your electronic devices, you still have to deal with all those cords and cables, which can create an unsightly mess along your floor and walls. A few cable concealers from SimpleCord can take care of that problem. The plastic units are designed to blend with most wall colors, leaving a streamlined path from devices to an outlet.

Reviewers praise these concealers as "easy to install" and "very sturdy." Once you have your wires laid down in the raceway containers, slide the plastic cover on, and you're all set. Add-on units allow you to turn corners easily, and you can even lock them into place along your baseboards with adhesive strips or mounting screws.

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