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[G146]Get Organized For School

by Amy Covington, Amy

You're a grown-up now; it's time to keep those undies and wet towels off the floor. Furthermore, being a pack-rat is not a quality most find appealing. That doesn't mean you should change, just hide it better. And while it may not bother you that your "office" furniture consists of a folding card table and rusty file cabinet, it sure doesn't send a very professional message to potential clients. So, get a jump on spring and get organized with these nifty-and functional-finds.

Stylish Hampers Turn a functional item into part of your decor with the collapsible trendy hampers by Garnet Hill($38), which stores flat when not in use.

Bug off Mask those dirty sock odors and keep moths at bay with these hanger sachets by Elizabeth W($18).

Handbag stash It's a fact of life that every girl needs lots of handbags (oversized shoulder bags, tiny clutches, hobos, you get the picture). What's not necessary is the disorganized way you store your cherished totes. The Simply Sarah Handbag Hanger($30) is a stylish solution to the problem of efficiently storing handbags.

Hanger on Everyone hates those little bumps left in your shirt by hangers. We all have tried unsuccessfully to get them out by putting water on them, ironing them. Nothing works. Now, you never have to deal with those pesky bumps again. Eradicate unattractive shoulder bumps forever with the soft, round design of Bumps Be-Gone($17 for 8).

Keep your keepsakes safe We all have keepsakes that mean a whole lot to us but might not be appropriate for public viewing. Keep all your old love letters, ex-rated photos, prom corsage, whatever you hold dear in these black and white keepsake boxes with mother-of-pearl detail($25-30).

Trunk show Have company on their way over? Then you need the Sasha Trunk from Pier1($175) to hide those Star Wars figurines. Perfect for any room of the house, this trunk is crafted out of solid hardwood in a light gray-wash finish, plus it features a sturdy metal lock.

Stylish bathroom storage Not every bathroom comes with a linen closet the size of a chic boutique. If you're like many Americans, you have some storage challenges when it comes to the "powder room". West Elm turns utilitarian on its head with the modular storage collection(prices vary depending on piece).

Right state of mind It really is true that when your space is organized, it frees your mind to be more productive. Give it the old college try with the Eames Storage Unit($2,595) by Design Within Reach. You just might be surprised by the results.

You can create a better homework environment for your teenager by providing at least six feet of desk surface. The old three foot desks aren't large enough to hold the computers, printers, cell phones and oh yes, the books, that are a daily part of your teenager's school life. Teach them how to deal with their school papers, this skill will be used for the rest of their life.

Organizing Solutions For Teenagers Heading Back to School - Tips From a Professional Organizer

Educational tools have certainly changed in the last decade. The old three foot desks aren't large enough to hold the computers, printers, cell phones and oh yes, the books, that are a daily part of your teenager's school life.

Many older desks have a row of small shallow drawers and no space for hanging files. These inefficient small drawers usually become junk zones.

Create a better homework environment by providing at least six feet of desk surface. This space will accommodate a computer and leave a large open surface for book studies, homework and special projects. Make sure to leave at least 4 feet of open surface.

Keep the hard drive off of the desk surface as well as the keyboard and mouse if possible. Place the hard drive below the desk and off to the side. Use a keyboard tray. If the desk doesn't come with a keyboard tray, purchase it separately and install it under the existing desktop.

Stagger two?three shelves above the desk opposite the computer. Shelves that are12 inches deep will fit three ring binders, dictionaries and the printer. The printer shelf will need a groove cut into the wall edge to accommodate the cables. These shelves will hold binders, textbooks and memorabilia without cluttering up the desk surface. U-shaped shelves that have side brackets built in help keep the larger books upright without the need for wobbly bookends.

Install the first shelf 8-10 inches above the desktop and the other shelves staggered above and to the sides of the centered shelf. The space below the lowest shelf will accommodate items used regularly.

If there is a telephone on the desk, mount it on the wall. If there is a cell phone, mount or place the charger off of the desk surface as well.

A small drawer for tape, scissors and pens along with a file drawer will complete the study area. Consider teaching your kids a filing system this year. This skill will be used for years.

A file drawer will help sort papers by subject. This is the perfect time to develop paper flow skills. Work with your child to create a file system that makes sense to them. Possible organizational categories for folders could be: by the subject, by the project, or simply homework completed, current projects etc. Make sure there are extra tabs and empty folders in this drawer so they can easily add new folders throughout the year.

Every summer sort through the file drawer with your child and purge the old papers to make way for new files the next school year. Developing the regular habit of purging old books and paperwork is an invaluable skill and worth the time and resistance you might encounter as you exercise this new habit.

Teach your child how to save and file warranties and manuals for all of the electronic gadgets they own. Again ? a valuable life skill to impart. Do this for your own records and lead by example. Staple the receipt into the front cover of the manual for easy access with warranty concerns.

Install a few hooks on the wall or a coat rack by the desk area to keep backpacks and other gear off the floor.

Help your teenage organize their backpack with plastic folders and small satchels for pens and discs.

There are amazing new organizational products designed specifically for school lockers. Check out all of the magnetic bins and discover all of the endless options for designing a custom locker space. Have fun shopping, you will be amazed at all of the options!

Article Source : Pg. 71

About Author

Both Amy Covington & Kathi Burns are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Amy Covington has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Celebrities and Adventure Travel. Amy's passion is writing about the good things in life: food, wine, fashion, and travel. Writings include other topics such as ,. Amy Covington's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.

Kathi Burns has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management. Kathi Burns is a syndicated columnist and the founder of AddSpaceToYourLife! A Professional Organizing and Image Agency. If you are ready to jump-start getting organized or create a new image, get your free tips now at. Kathi Burns's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.