The New Necessity: A Label-Maker

We all know an office needs a stapler, a tape dispenser, pens and pencils, file folders---and hopefully a decent file cabinet. But how many of you would put a label-maker on that list?

I lived without one for years. Now I wouldn't be without one. Do you know how many things you can do to organize not only your office, but your whole house, with a label-maker? Here are some ideas:

• File Folders --- Hanging file folders leave a tidier more organized look, but typing and printing off labels to slide into the plastic tabs is, well, a pain. Enter the label-maker. I print the label and stick it right onto the outside of the plastic tab. Fast, works great, and easy enough to change!
  
  
• Binder Labels --- Multiple binders on a shelf can result in wasted time looking for the right now. Enter the label-maker. Labels can easily be made to keep binders in order.
  
  
• Medicine Cabinet/Shelf --- Plastic bins work great for stashing different types of medications and keeping them organized, but knowing what is in each bin can be a problem. Enter the label-maker. Labeling each bin makes for easy retrieval of the correct bin!
  
  
• Laundry Closet --- Plastic dishpans work great on the shelves of a laundry closet to store items for two reasons: The items are tidily contained and the bins can be easily pulled from the shelves. (Being vertically challenged that's a plus!) The problem comes in having a family of five knowing what is in each dishpan without pulling each one down. Enter the label-maker. Labeling each dishpan accordingly solves the problem!
  
  
  
  
• Storage --- Storage boxes and plastic totes provide great storage for infrequently used items, sentimental or seasonal items. To make retrieval easy, you've got it, enter the label-maker. Labeling each box or tote refreshes the memory and speeds the retrieval process!
  
  
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Laundry Room Makeover

A few years back we bought an older farmhouse and moved in. It was solid and with potential but needed some tender loving care and changes to make it more efficient and inviting. The photo above was the original laundry closet with dark cabinets and doors that would not close. That may not be too bad of thing if the laundry closet were in an out-of-the-way hall, but no such luck. This laundry closet was visible from the front door. The closet opened up into the living room! It was an eyesore to say the least---and inefficient. It needed help!

Laundry is one of those never-ending jobs---at least it is in my household! To not have an efficient method to deal with a never-ending job is asking for frustration. Make sure your laundry room or closet is the most efficient that it can be and a place you don't mind frequenting!

I knew our laundry area needed help. I also knew space was limited. Ideally I would have loved a laundry room (not a mere closet!) with a table for folding clothing, an ironing board and all. But one works with what one has and makes the best of it.

First I set out to determine what was essential to me in a laundry room. Here was my list:

• Storage for laundry supplies.
• Hanging space for clothes that are to be hung and not folded.
• Storage to coral odd socks awaiting their mate to show up in the laundry.
• A place to stack clean clothes ready to be taken to their proper rooms.
• Garbage can for lint. (Yes, make it EASY for people to keep the lint trap clean!)
• And DOORS! I wanted doors that would really close. I wanted to be able to make the never-ending job called laundry to disappear at will!
  

Below is the new and improved laundry closet, thanks to my parents coming for a "work visit." The old cabinets were torn out and replaced with cabinets we already owned. The walls were painted a brown called "milk chocolate", a nice contrast to the white appliances and cabinet---and a color that blended with the living room walls. Wire shelving, along with a clothes rod, were installed at the far end of the closet---adding storage and a space to hang clothes not needing to be folded. And the "lived-in" version of the laundry closet.
And doors! Crisp white louvered doors made my wish come true. The laundry really could disappear at will! The white added a brightness to the living room.