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Get Your Space OrGREENized in ‘09

colorful tray

Today we’re joined by guest blogger Jeff Hobbs of Organize-Design-Live. Jeff specializes in home organization and interior design in Los Angeles and he is going to share some helpful thoughts with us on getting orGREENized in the New Year.

Get orGREENized in ‘09

Are your closets and drawers your worst enemies? Do you constantly misplace files at your office? Well, it’s a new year so that means we have the opportunity to make some changes, let go of the guilt about the things we didn’t do last year, and start fresh. Getting your personal space organized will result in more efficiency in just about every area of your life. . . a great place to start if you’re serious about fulfilling some of this year’s resolutions. And why not roll the resolutions of getting organized and being more environmentally friendly into one? There are so many great products on the market today, along with other creative organizational systems, that won’t break your bank or our environment.

Here are a few ideas, products, and tips to get you started…

Amazon.com is a great resource for many of your organizational needs, especially if you like one-stop shopping and want to keep within a budget. Some of my favorite organizational solutions on Amazon include products made of recycled plastic, bamboo and seagrass, and recycled cardboard.

colorful trayThis colorful, recycled desktop organizing tray is attractive so it doesn’t have to be hidden away in a drawer or closet and it’s made of recycled, non-biodegradable trash. It doesn’t get any greener than that. Just put your pens, papers, business cards and other little items in here and you’re good to go.

Choosing products made of renewable resources like bamboo or seagrass is another environment-conscious option when deciding which organizational products work best for you. And there are so many options on the market, from large and small storage boxes to drawer organizers to bathroom accessories. Not only are both materials naturally beautiful, making them a great option for storage that will be seen out in the open, but they’re strong and will definitely stand the test of time.

bamboo binFor example look at this bamboo media bin at left— wouldn’t that look better than a big ugly stack of magazines and other papers? They also come in different sizes for storing DVDs and Videos.

seagrass file boxIf bamboo isn’t your style, then how about seagrass? It looks natural and lovely. This seagrass file box would make a great addition to your new organized office. Just think how productive you’ll be when you can actually find what you’re looking for.

doc boxesFor the budget conscious organizer (and who isn’t?), I highly recommend products made of recycled cardboard. They’re inexpensive, stackable, and available in a multitude of colors, sizes, and shapes; the perfect go-to option for just about any space. These document boxes at left are made of recycled cardboard.

My most favorite tip for getting orGREENized is to use what you already have or would otherwise toss. It’s the ultimate in green and cheap! If you’re like me, you probably have some shipment boxes lying around from all the gifts you ordered online. Or, you have boxes that contained your favorite holiday presents. Rather than breaking them down and throwing them away (hopefully in the recycle bin), use them for storage. Obviously, this would not be the best option if you’d prefer your organizational systems to have a more refined look or if your storage will be kept in a visible place. But for storing holiday ornaments in the garage, old magazines and newspapers in your closet, or your kid’s memorabilia in the attic, it’s the perfect green option.

And if the idea of having unattractive storage containers ANYWHERE in your home isn’t appealing, I completely understand, so I have a creative solution for you, too. Used gift wrap, covers of old magazines, newspapers, your kid’s coloring book pages, a pair of scissors, and a jar of Mod Podge (basically, thinned out white glue, available in any craft/art store) is all you need to decorate and cover those less-than-attractive cardboard boxes. It’s a fun project and, I promise, it’ll make you feel like a kid again. Who didn’t love the class projects that included scissors, paper, and lots of glue? Just don’t eat the paste!

Happy New Year and Happy orGREENizing!

Written by Low Impact Living

Low Impact Living™ is a way of life.

We believe you want to lessen the load you put on the earth. You want to reduce global warming. You want to recycle. You want to do what's best for the environment, but often you don't know where to start. And you don't know what impact your efforts will have, or how much they will cost.

At Low Impact Living, we want to help you lower the environmental impact of your home and your daily life. To do that, we help you find the best green products, practices and service providers to help you achieve your environmental goals. And we will also help you understand the environmental benefits and economic trade-offs of your choices. Our primary goal is to make the path from inspiration to implementation as short and as smooth as possible. Only by taking action will we collectively reduce the damage to our planet and ecosystems.

Visit us at http://lowimpactliving.com

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