by Jill Seader
Do you work from home? Do you have trouble keeping your home office organized? Learn how 15 minutes at the end of every day can get you organized and on track.
Organizing your home office and keeping it organized when you work from home can be very challenging. Often the line between work life and home life can get blurry when you work from home and your office serves more than one purpose. So how do you keep it under control? With just 15 minutes at the end of every day you can keep your home office organized.
Spend 5 minutes getting the "stuff" off of your desk
If your desk at home is anything like mine, things tend to just build up there. I clean it off daily but paper and other things end up on it by the end of the day. Organizing a home office and keeping it organized means that you need to keep your desk area clear. Try to make sure that the only things on your desk are things that you need frequent access to and are projects that you are currently working on. Everything else needs to go.
At the end of the day, take everything off of your desk. Only put back those things that you need for the projects that you are working on tomorrow. For me, this helps clear my brain and get me clear on what I need to do the next day. It is a good way to put your work day to bed.
Spend 5 minutes getting rid of the things that do not belong in your home office
Organizing your home office at the end of the day also means getting stuff out of your home office that does not belong there. When you work from home, there are often things that end up in your home office that would never end up in an office at a work building. Some of the crazy collections that have ended up in my home office at the end of the day: laundry, dolls and DVDs. It is not always easy to separate work space from home space but make sure that this happens at the end of your day. Anything that ended up in your home office that does not belong there needs to go to it's proper home at the end of the day.
Spend 5 minutes creating an "action plan" for the next day
This is more of a time management tip than a home office organization tip but it is a good tip nevertheless. If you take time at the end of your day to get your head clear about your game plan for tomorrow, that is definitely a wise investment of your time. I know that I get far more done in a day when I do this. It helps get your priorities straight for the next day and gives you a game plan to follow. I try not to spend more than 5 minutes at the end of the day doing this because otherwise I end up with a list a mile long of things I need to get done. This action plan for the next day needs to be a realistic one. If you have timePsychology Articles, it is also helpful to prioritize that list.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Types of Mops
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
Flat Mops:
Flat mops are a type of mop with a flat head that usually has a disposable or reusable pad that attaches to it. Disposable types include the Clorox Ready Mop and Swiffer Wet Jet, as well as other brands that may include a spray mechanism to wet the floor being mopped. Reusable flat mops usually have a microfiber or other type of cleaning pad that is washable.
Flat mops are great for cleaning, especially as a daily mop. They are easy to use and require little effort to set up and use. Flat mops work well at cleaning corners, although they may have trouble scrubbing stuck-on food particles without pretreatment.
Sponge Mops:
Sponge mops consist of a spongy mop head that usually has an attached wringer. Sponge mops may have removable heads that allow them to be rinsed more easily and replaced when necessary. Sponge mops are great for cleaning tile and other uneven surfaces. Sponge mops need to be properly maintained and cared for to avoid the spread of bacteria. When the sponge on the mop begins to break apart, or if the mop begins to smell or discolor, replace the mop head.
Dust Mops:
Dust mops can be used to clean floors, walls, ceilings, and light fixtures. Usually they have a long handle allowing you to reach corner cobwebs and dusty fans. Dust mops can be made from a variety of materials including, lambs wool, microfiber, and synthetics. Dust mops are used with dry cleaning and aren't usually meant to be a wet cleaning tool.
Wet Mops:
There are many kinds of wet mops. From sythetic strip mops with built in wringers to traditional cotton mops, there's something for every taste. Traditional cotton string mops are great to use because of their absorbency and scrubbing power. Traditional string mops make getting into corners a cinch, but can often be more difficult to wring out. They are also more difficult to maintain than many other mops.
Synthetic head wet mops are often in strips with a built in wringer. These mops are not as absorbent and able to scrub as a cotton mop, but they are more convenient and easy to care for.
Flat Mops:
Flat mops are a type of mop with a flat head that usually has a disposable or reusable pad that attaches to it. Disposable types include the Clorox Ready Mop and Swiffer Wet Jet, as well as other brands that may include a spray mechanism to wet the floor being mopped. Reusable flat mops usually have a microfiber or other type of cleaning pad that is washable.
Flat mops are great for cleaning, especially as a daily mop. They are easy to use and require little effort to set up and use. Flat mops work well at cleaning corners, although they may have trouble scrubbing stuck-on food particles without pretreatment.
Sponge Mops:
Sponge mops consist of a spongy mop head that usually has an attached wringer. Sponge mops may have removable heads that allow them to be rinsed more easily and replaced when necessary. Sponge mops are great for cleaning tile and other uneven surfaces. Sponge mops need to be properly maintained and cared for to avoid the spread of bacteria. When the sponge on the mop begins to break apart, or if the mop begins to smell or discolor, replace the mop head.
Dust Mops:
Dust mops can be used to clean floors, walls, ceilings, and light fixtures. Usually they have a long handle allowing you to reach corner cobwebs and dusty fans. Dust mops can be made from a variety of materials including, lambs wool, microfiber, and synthetics. Dust mops are used with dry cleaning and aren't usually meant to be a wet cleaning tool.
Wet Mops:
There are many kinds of wet mops. From sythetic strip mops with built in wringers to traditional cotton mops, there's something for every taste. Traditional cotton string mops are great to use because of their absorbency and scrubbing power. Traditional string mops make getting into corners a cinch, but can often be more difficult to wring out. They are also more difficult to maintain than many other mops.
Synthetic head wet mops are often in strips with a built in wringer. These mops are not as absorbent and able to scrub as a cotton mop, but they are more convenient and easy to care for.
Monday, June 23, 2008
3 Steps to Choosing Paint Color
jilldenton.wordpress.com
Choosing a paint color can be one of the most difficult decorating decisions, there are so many choices out there, but with a few designer tips, it can be as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Pick your favorite object in the room. This can be a rug, fabric, wall art, comforter or piece of furniture. The color(s) of this object will set the mood and overall look for the room.
2. Select colors that go with the favorite object you selected. In a rug, a piece of fabric or wall art, coordinating colors will be easy to spot. Just match one of the colors that you like. Or you could choose an analogous, complementary, split complementary, triad or monochomatic color scheme based on the color wheel. For example, if your sofa is blue and you added analogous colors, you’d be adding other shades of blue, if you were to add shades of orange you’d be adding a complementary colors.
3. Choose accents to pull the room together. For most people, this is either the fun part or the hard part. Look to the color wheel for direction if you need help. The same rules apply. Choose accent peices, furniture, window treatments, art and accessories that are coordinating, analogous or complementary ito complete the room.
Choosing a paint color can be one of the most difficult decorating decisions, there are so many choices out there, but with a few designer tips, it can be as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Pick your favorite object in the room. This can be a rug, fabric, wall art, comforter or piece of furniture. The color(s) of this object will set the mood and overall look for the room.
2. Select colors that go with the favorite object you selected. In a rug, a piece of fabric or wall art, coordinating colors will be easy to spot. Just match one of the colors that you like. Or you could choose an analogous, complementary, split complementary, triad or monochomatic color scheme based on the color wheel. For example, if your sofa is blue and you added analogous colors, you’d be adding other shades of blue, if you were to add shades of orange you’d be adding a complementary colors.
3. Choose accents to pull the room together. For most people, this is either the fun part or the hard part. Look to the color wheel for direction if you need help. The same rules apply. Choose accent peices, furniture, window treatments, art and accessories that are coordinating, analogous or complementary ito complete the room.
Furniture Tips and Tricks
hgtv.com
Sometimes new furniture is out of the question for the budget. Kitty Bartholomew demonstrates clever ways of working with what you have when decorating.
Homeowner Carmen Lopez had to figure out a way to make the small-scale furniture from her old home work in the large rooms of her new home. Bartholomew discusses the ways she accomplished this:
* An unusual color combination of taupe and pale yellow create a soft, relaxing palette that is accented with black and gilded metal.
* Seating is arranged in the center of the room, with larger pieces along the perimeter balancing the conversation area.
* An oversize leopard ottoman replaces a smaller-scale coffee table.
* A six-panel Asian screen is divided into two sections to flank the entry in the dining room.
* A small 4' x 8' balcony is filled with furniture from a country home. The black and white floors set the theme for the black and white striped canvas curtains hung for privacy, and the striking black trellis hung on both the wall and ceiling.
* Trays are placed in every room to organize collections.
Sometimes new furniture is out of the question for the budget. Kitty Bartholomew demonstrates clever ways of working with what you have when decorating.
Homeowner Carmen Lopez had to figure out a way to make the small-scale furniture from her old home work in the large rooms of her new home. Bartholomew discusses the ways she accomplished this:
* An unusual color combination of taupe and pale yellow create a soft, relaxing palette that is accented with black and gilded metal.
* Seating is arranged in the center of the room, with larger pieces along the perimeter balancing the conversation area.
* An oversize leopard ottoman replaces a smaller-scale coffee table.
* A six-panel Asian screen is divided into two sections to flank the entry in the dining room.
* A small 4' x 8' balcony is filled with furniture from a country home. The black and white floors set the theme for the black and white striped canvas curtains hung for privacy, and the striking black trellis hung on both the wall and ceiling.
* Trays are placed in every room to organize collections.
Furniture Arranging Ideas
By indobase.com
Arranging the furniture in the right manner ensures that the room area is efficiently used. Arranging furniture in certain ways highlights the furniture. But deciding how to arrange furniture and how to make use of the space in a room can be a difficult and daunting task. Given below are a few ideas on how to arrange furniture in the living room, bedroom and in a multipurpose room.
Living Room
* Before arranging furniture in the living room, decide on what will be the focus of the room. Use the focus as the central point of the room. Arrange furniture opposite the object in focus.
* The central point of the room can be anything, the fireplace, the largest window in the room or your home theater. The object of your focus should be fixed to a wall so that you can arrange your furniture around it in a cozy way.
* Chairs should be placed within 8 feet of each other, as it will encourage conversation.
* Position a table in such a way that it is easily accessible from every chair.
* Keep a light source near the seating area.
* When you place the coffee table ensure that there is enough legroom of about 14 to 18 inches from the sofa.
* Side tables should be at least as tall as the arm of the chairs or sofa. This will ensure that serving is easy.
* When arranging furniture provide enough space to move around the room.
Arranging the furniture in the right manner ensures that the room area is efficiently used. Arranging furniture in certain ways highlights the furniture. But deciding how to arrange furniture and how to make use of the space in a room can be a difficult and daunting task. Given below are a few ideas on how to arrange furniture in the living room, bedroom and in a multipurpose room.
Living Room
* Before arranging furniture in the living room, decide on what will be the focus of the room. Use the focus as the central point of the room. Arrange furniture opposite the object in focus.
* The central point of the room can be anything, the fireplace, the largest window in the room or your home theater. The object of your focus should be fixed to a wall so that you can arrange your furniture around it in a cozy way.
* Chairs should be placed within 8 feet of each other, as it will encourage conversation.
* Position a table in such a way that it is easily accessible from every chair.
* Keep a light source near the seating area.
* When you place the coffee table ensure that there is enough legroom of about 14 to 18 inches from the sofa.
* Side tables should be at least as tall as the arm of the chairs or sofa. This will ensure that serving is easy.
* When arranging furniture provide enough space to move around the room.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)