“small Space Solutions”

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Dorm Daze: Cleaning Essentials Checklist

by Jessica Yonker September 19, 2012 6 Comments

Small spaces get dirty fast. A sticky spot on the floor or a few cobwebs in the corner might go unnoticed for weeks in a big, roomy house, but quickly become an eyesore in a dorm room. But whereas in that big house you may have cleaning products for days, college students’ supplies are often limited.

This kid doesn't know most college students will never own a vacuum this nice.

Here’s an example: I didn’t always own a mop. I used to loop a hand towel on the end of a broom, dunk it in a bucket (and by bucket, I mean trash can) of soapy water and drag it across the floor, hoping that it would clean something, anything. Those were dark days.

Decorating is basically useless if all of your stuff is covered in trash. There are essentials you need, especially if it’s your first apartment or dorm, to keep your space tidy and clean.

See The List

Featured

Dorm Daze: Must Love Rugs

by Jessica Yonker August 15, 2012 9 Comments

If there is one thing I took away from living in dorms for the last four years it’s this: I hope you like tile, because you’re going to be seeing a lot of it.

Your typical dorm with typical dorm tile, courtesy of the Lovely Undergrad.

I groan now, but I’m actually kind of relieved I’ve never had to deal with dorm carpet that’s seen student after student over the course of several years. Yuck. I’ve always had carpets at home and unless I somehow manage to sneak them into the car, my mother usually makes me toss them at the end of the school year (Dorm hack: at the end of the school year the dorms become a burial ground for abandoned items; I once watched someone walk off with a 50-inch television), so collecting rugs turned into an accidental hobby of mine. You can put a rug anywhere — you can put a rug on a rug, if you want.
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HGTV How-To: Turn a Dresser Into a Media Console

by Kayla Kitts May 1, 2012 12 Comments

Do you remember when hiding your TV was the best way to keep your living room looking chic and polished? Well, now it’s the other way around. A sleek flat-screen can easily be an aesthetically-pleasing focal point in a space. Whether they’re mounted on the wall or situated on a stand, TVs still need the perfect console to house (and hide) all those clutter-inducing media components, wires and remote controls.

I know what you’re thinking, media consoles aren’t cheap. (Although the high-gloss red unit that I’ve been coveting from IKEA is a refreshing $249.) That’s why our very own featured blogger, Brian Patrick Flynn, has come to the rescue with a project that’s simple, stylish and most of all, affordable. Now, you can get a designer look without the price tag.

multipurpose family room small space Making the Most of a Small, Multipurpose Space

OK, raise your hand if you stalk the furniture section on Craigslist every day. (Raises hand!) I thought so. Now, how many times a day do you see a wooden dresser for a killer price but you just don’t need another dresser? Give that dresser a whole new life, my friends, as a media console with high-end style that’s perfectly suited for spaces both large and small. Here’s how:

small space media console repurposed Before :: Dresser

This vintage dresser was picked up at a flea market for $35. As you can see, it has some flaws on the exterior but nothing a little sanding and paint can’t fix.

small space media console repurposed After :: Media console

First, remove the drawers and pre-drill pilot holes into drawer base and drawer front for each. (This will be where the hinges go.) Remove the drawer fronts from each drawer base using a jigsaw or table saw. Add screws through holes in hinges. Drill holes in backs of drawers for cords and wires. Sand the exterior of the dresser, and then paint to add a fresh, new finish.

Get the Full Step-by-Step Instructions >>

We turned an old dresser into a modern media console. Have you embarked on any repurposing projects recently? Share them with us!

DanMade Gardening: How to Make a Vertical Garden

by Abbi McCollum April 12, 2012 37 Comments

Dan Faires, the Design Star season five fan favorite and host of DanMade, presented at the 19th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival presented by HGTV at Walt Disney World over Easter weekend. Dan demonstrated how to plant with a terrarium and how to go vertical with a clever container garden. Check out Dan’s tips for terrariums and vertical gardens:

Hi HGTV’ers!

Spring has SPRUNG and it’s great to be able to share some of the latest Danmade gardening projects with you here on the blog. My hope is that you will be inspired and want to jump right in and get your hands dirty this weekend.

This Danmade Vertical Garden is not only simple, it is perfect for anyone with limited green space. It can also be mounted inside on the wall. As a designer, people often ask me what type of artwork to use or what to hang on the walls that will provide an unexpected focal point in the space. The Danmade Vertical Garden is a great addition in any room and it won’t break the bank either.

DanMade Vertical Garden

The steps to creating your very own Danmade Vertical Garden are:

1. Find or purchase any old crate. I literally got this one out of the trash in New York City, but you can usually find them at any flea market or thrift store. The crate I am using is relatively small, but you could expand this principle and make your Danmade Vertical Garden as big as you want!
2. Purchase seed starter cells at any hardware store or nursery. I have chosen these 100% natural fiber cells because they are eco-friendly and absorb moisture well. You could also use plastic seed starter cells.
3. Cut the seed starter cells so that they fit snuggly into the crate.
4. Purchase some chicken wire or wire mesh at your local hardware store. This will serve as a barrier to hold the plants in place when the planter is hung vertically on the wall.
5. Cut the chicken wire or wire mesh so that it fits very tightly inside of the crate. *Remove the wire before proceeding to the next step.
6. Place dirt inside of seed starter cells
7. Install plants into individual cells.
8. Re-insert wire mesh making sure to be very careful with plants. Pull any plants through holes in the wire. For larger plants, cut bigger holes in wire if necessary, making sure to keep the wire as tight as possible. For larger Danmade Vertical Gardens I would recommend stapling the wire in place onto the crate.
9. The final step is to add moss. Wedge the moss as tight as you can in any gaps. This will help the dirt and plant material from falling out until the roots systems get established. It also looks much more aesthetically pleasing and helps absorb much needed moisture for the plants in your Danmade Vertical Garden.

Since everyone loved the animated terrarium how to, I thought I’d include one here as well:

DanMade Vertical Garden

A few important points to note about the Danmade Vertical Garden:
1. This hangs on the wall, just like a picture frame. You can use a cleat, or purchase frame hanging wire from your local hardware store.
2. To water your Danmade Vertical Garden simply remove it from the wall once a week, lay it flat on the ground and soak it with the water hose outside, or inside in the shower. Leave it for 2 to 5 minutes so that the excess moisture drips away, and then bring it back inside to hang vertically on the wall.

If you missed my last blog about terrariums, check it out here to learn how to create this simple container garden.

Have a GREEN day! Be sure to leave any questions or comments below and I will try to answer them as soon as possible. Also, if you decide to make your own Danmade Vertical Garden I would love to see photos!

Daniel Grady Faires
Host of HGTV.com’s DanMade

HGTV How-To: Make a Floating Desk

by Kayla Kitts January 17, 2012 6 Comments

You’ve never seen a happier girl than the day I brought home my white, vintage desk with red pulls. After a few fresh coats of paint, it became one of my favorite pieces of furniture. (It doesn’t hurt that I found it for $20 on Craigslist, either.) I love it so, but it never gets used. Not once have I sat down at my beautiful desk to work or read. I head straight to the sofa and never look back. I thought I would just have to continue in my productivity struggles on the sofa until I saw this space-saving floating workspace. It’s still a desk, but it doesn’t feel so desk-like. Plus, you can tuck it in ANYWHERE (under the stairs, in a closet, by the kitchen, etc.). And when you’re not using it, it disguises as a floating shelf. Genius!

how to make a floating desk brian patrick flynn

Design Happens featured blogger Brian Patrick Flynn created this flexible workstation as the perfect solution to small-space dilemmas. Floating-style furniture can be found in many rooms of the house to create the illusion of more space or keep everyday items nearby. “By applying this same principle to a workspace, the same light, airy, space-saving illusion can be achieved to support multiple functions, including working from home,” Brian says. We like that idea. Because who has extra space to spare these days?

how to make a floating desk brian patrick flynn

We love that this built-in has a flip-down door front to store laptops, books and other desk accessories. But when it’s not in work-mode, the door can be closed to turn it right back into a functional wall shelf. Get the Full Step-by-Step Instructions >>

For more small-space solutions, from hiding clutter to finding the perfect furniture, check out our Small Space Design Guide.