Archives for April 2009

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

Posted by PJ on Apr 8, 2009 | 1 Comment | Tweet This

Lessons in minimal web design: Would you click on this?

Today we welcome guest post author Glen Stansberry. Glen writes about creative web design and web development at Web Jackalope. You can also follow him on Twitter.

It seems like nearly every day, I go to a popular website and see examples of how not to design a site. And the number one no-no that all of these highly-trafficked sites commit is that their designs have too much thoughtless clutter.

The worst case is when a seemingly clean site has a random patch of cluttery buttons in the corner somewhere. I took this screenshot yesterday of a popular dictionary site.

Apparently the makers of the site decided to cram as many social networking site buttons into the upper-right corner of the webpage, in hopes of getting attention on social sites.

Would you click on any of those buttons? I know I wouldn’t. Aside from placing those buttons in the last place they’ll be seen on the site, they just add clutter. The buttons have effectively taken attention away from the core section of the site (the definitions and dictionary look-up), and are digitally waving their hands and screaming “look at me! look at me!” in the nose-bleed section of the layout. I think it’s safe to assume that those buttons have a really, really low click-through ratio.

If I was going to use one of these buttons, I’d have to take about 20 minutes to scan through all the buttons just to find the bookmarking service I wanted. Also, the buttons feel like they were hastily added, as an afterthought. It’s as if some big-wig in the company read about social networking in the newspaper the night before, burst into the designer’s cubicle and demanded the designer increase their “social media whatchamacallit” NOW.

Would I Click This?

Every element should pass the “would I click on this?” test. When I’m laying out a design and want to add something (like a button or a link) outside of the content, I always ask myself if I would click on it as a visitor. If I won’t, then visitors probably won’t either.

Every ounce of space is precious. When you have a great minimal design like Unclutterer has, every tiny thing you add to the layout is going to be seen. Especially if the element is added thoughtfully and tastefully.

Take Unclutterer’s new “Subscribe on Twitter” link. Erin mentioned yesterday that the Unclutterer Twitter account had received a ton of new followers last week, probably due to the recent addition of a simple link and button to the sidebar. Compare these two implementations and ask yourself which you would rather click on:

this

or this

When it comes to design, every bit, every piece, every ounce must be weighed and thought through. Adding even a tiny thing dilutes the rest of the design, but if added carefully and thoughtfully, can actually enhance the overall design.

Posted by Glen on Apr 8, 2009 | 21 Comments | Tweet This

Consistency = Success In Organizing, Golf and Life

Today we again welcome the phenomenal Monica Ricci as a guest author on Unclutterer. She’s the organizing adviser for Office Depot and Beazer Homes, and you may have seen her on HGTV’s Mission Organization. A professional organizer hailing from Atlanta, I’m happy to call her a friend and to have her share her uncluttering wisdom with our readers.

Some time in the late 80s, my first husband taught me to golf, and I discovered something countless people already knew: Golf is hard! In fact, it’s the most difficult sport I’ve ever learned, with the possible exception of hang gliding, but that’s a whole other (horrible scraped-and-bloody-legs) story that maybe I’ll tell sometime after I’ve had too much to drink. But I digress…

What Joe taught me about golf is that to be a successful golfer, you have to learn a bunch of new skills and combine them properly to get the results you want. Your stance, your grip, your head position, your back swing, your swing, and follow-through all have to be just right to get the ball to go where you want it to. If one of those skills isn’t right, the ball will hook, slice, or burn some worms. In short, you get a less than desirable result. To be a good golfer, it’s important to learn proper fundamentals and combine them well, so that when you practice, you’re practicing good habits rather than deeply ingraining BAD habits.

The same is true in life and organizing. Your success is deeply dependent on the habits you create over time. The way you manage your time is a habit, and all the daily routines you’ve developed to manage your life and your work are all just habits. If you look objectively at the state of any area of your life from the condition of your home, office, or car, to your relationships, your finances, or your health and fitness, what you see are the results of your habits. If you love what you see, then do more of whatever you’re doing!

On the other hand, if what you see isn’t so terrific, sorry to say, that’s also the result of your habits. If your habits haven’t created the life and results you want, it’s time to change them. Here’s how to make a change in three simple steps…

  1. Pay Attention In The Moment. If you mentally “check-in” with what you do on a daily basis in the midst of your routines, you’ll notice that you do things without even realizing it. Some of those ingrained habits are positive (putting the cap back on the toothpaste or putting the seat down without even thinking) while some others aren’t so great (throwing the mail on the kitchen counter and ignoring it for a few days, trying to throw together meals on the fly, writing phone messages on scraps of paper that you end up losing, trying to keep up with multiple calendars).
  2. Choose a Different Thought In The Moment. Once you notice what you’re doing, you’re halfway there! Your thoughts created those habitual behaviors, and therefore your thoughts can create new ones. For example, change your thinking from: “I’ll just put this here for now and handle it later” to “I’ll take a minute and handle this now.” Change “I’ll remember that appointment in my head” to “I’ll add that to my calendar now so I don’t have to remember it.”You’ll be AMAZED at how powerful this one specific change is! As long as you just pay attention to yourself, you’ll be able to hear those thoughts that precede the ineffective behavior.
  3. Choose A Different Behavior In The Moment. Habits are the behaviors generated by thoughts. If you change your thoughts, you can change your behaviors. This is where your power lives. You can change your thinking (which is GREAT!) but unless you ACT on that change, your results will stay the same.

The secret sequence to change a habit is:

  1. Pay attention.
  2. Choose a new thought.
  3. Act on that new thought.
  4. Repeat.

Once you apply that sequence to a few of your negative habits a handful of times, your new behavior will begin to be the new “default” — you’ll replace your old habits with powerful new ones, which will create a totally new result in your life.

Posted by Monica on Apr 7, 2009 | 12 Comments | Tweet This

Another option in space-saving ladders

A little over a year ago, I highlighted the telescoping ladder as a space-saving option. The other day, I found another collapsible ladder via Apartment Therapy. The 5-Foot Compact Ladder (pictured) collapses down to roughly the size of a 61″ long 2″ x 4″.

Apartment Therapy dubs this as the “world’s most compact ladder,” but I would argue that the telescoping ladder is a bit more compact. At a length of 61″, this would still be tough to carry through tight corners.

Either ladder would be a much better option than the traditional ladders that many of us own. The space saved by either of these is well worth the replacement of a clunky, old, space-hogging ladder.

Posted by Matt on Apr 7, 2009 | 11 Comments | Tweet This

Toronto architects utilizes under stair storage

stair-storage-tanUnder stair storage is a great way to utilize dead space in your home. It may not be the easiest project to tackle yourself, but it is an ingenious way to store things. We highlighted some under stair storage a while back and the most recent example is from Toronto architects Christine Ho Ping Kong and Peter Tan.

Dwell magazine featured this wonderful home in their April issue and the slideshow is well worth viewing. The home took Peter and Christine six years to complete and features many unique ideas. Peter constructed the under stair storage himself with each stair being its own separate drawer. Here is a excerpt from the article on making the most of a small space:

The unusual site and limited budget created a crucible for Ho Ping Kong and Tan’s intense creativity. Beyond the constraints of building codes and cost, the extremely tight quarters presented their own challenges. “In this house, the small spaces were massaged to hold as much as possible,” Tan says. The pair met the demands of the compact design, but just as they got all of the pieces arranged, along came their two children. “Originally, Pete wanted only one bedroom,” Ho Ping Kong remembers with ?a grin. “I had to say to him, where will our kids sleep?”

“I was in my purist phase,” Tan counters, smiling. “I was thinking: Here are the architectural elements we need—now how can we fit bedrooms inside?” The solution is a testament to their inventiveness. The bed in the master bedroom sits up against three small screen doors with the children’s beds on the other side. The flexible barrier creates a semiprivate room that can be kept open while the children are young. A second sliding wall system will be installed when the kids are ready to have their own rooms.

Posted by Matt on Apr 6, 2009 | 22 Comments | Tweet This

Christoph Niemann’s My Life With Cables

Artist Christoph Niemann reflected on his relationship with cables and wires on the New York Times blog Abstract City. His distain for cable clutter is right at home with Unclutterer and I’m sure many of you will enjoy it.

The whimsical art that Niemann creates incorporates actual cables with his illustrations. From the blog:

niemann-cable

I don’t even want to get started about the endless varieties of cables, chargers and adapters out there. My biggest frustration stems from a much simpler problem: I use a lot of extension cords with multiple sockets. Although these cords are obviously designed to power six cables, I can barely squeeze in three, since most electronic equipment nowadays seems to sport absurdly large plugs. This reminds me of some very inconsiderate folks one so often encounters on the subway.

Power Strip Liberators can help with this specific problem. For more helpful ideas on dealing with cable and wire problems, check out the posts archived in our Cable Clutter category.

Thanks to reader Emily for bringing this to our attention.

Posted by Matt on Apr 6, 2009 | 4 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

  • Minding the storage
    To me, storage is a dirty word. What do you store? Things you don’t use. And if you don’t use something, why store it?
  • Another cautionary tale
    Man dies in Md. blaze; clutter hindered firefighters’ efforts.
  • Photo processing (with a garbage bag)
    Considering that most of the photo print are blurry and overexposed, why not take a trash can and go through them. Organize or digitize the keepers.

Posted by PJ on Apr 5, 2009 | 2 Comments | Tweet This

National average home size decreasing

USA Today reports that Americans are building smaller homes:

New homes, after doubling in size since 1960, are shrinking. Last year, for the first time in at least 10 years, the average square footage of single-family homes under construction fell dramatically, from 2,629 in the second quarter to 2,343 in the fourth quarter, Census data show.

The trend for smaller homes is predicted to continue after the economy recovers:

“This will remain a trend. I don’t expect this (home size) to come back up,” says Gopal Ahluwalia, vice president of research for the National Association of Home Builders. Nine of 10 builders surveyed by NAHB this year say they’re building or planning smaller, lower-priced homes than in the past.

“We don’t need big homes,” he says. “Family size has been declining for the past 35 years.”

In 1982, during another recession period in US history, the Census Bureau reported the average new home was 1,710 square feet. Homes are currently more than 600 square feet larger, but the recent downward trend (in my personal opinion) is still a step in the right direction.

—
Speaking of home sizes, Unclutterer senior writer Matt was recently quoted in a MSN.com article on downsizing. “Cut your square footage in half.”

Posted by Erin on Apr 4, 2009 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: What should I do with old x-ray films?

Reader Piper submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I have a bunch of old X-Rays hanging around. Various broken bones, MRIs and things like that.

I don’t really want to throw them away (I’m not quite sure why) but I don’t know what to do with them either. I know I’m not the only one that keeps these things because I’m moving into an apartment and found a couple of X-Rays from the previous occupant.

Right now, they live in the bottom of a dresser drawer. That doesn’t take up much space, but it seems silly to have a curiosity like that around but hiding in the bottom of a drawer. I thought about putting them on a window as a decoration, but decided that was just too macabre and weird.

What an interesting question!

First, you should know that the Environmental Protection Agency claims that x-ray films do “not appear to be hazardous waste.” This means that if you have them in your house in an envelope, you’re storing them safely. The films themselves don’t retain any toxic levels of radiation. I was actually worried about this for a while, so I was glad to learn that handling them was fine.

Now, just because you aren’t poisoning yourself by having them around, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should keep them. The next time you go to your doctor’s office, bring along your collection of x-ray films. Ask your doctor which of the x-rays are worth keeping, and which ones you can purge. If you have an on-going medical condition, your doctor will probably instruct you to keep all x-ray films of importance to that condition. However, your doctor will probably tell you an x-ray of a broken wrist you had in the third grade won’t be important to keep.

The x-ray films your doctor recommends you keep should be stored in your personal medical file in your home filing cabinet. If you don’t still have the envelope they came in, ask your doctor if you can buy one from her. They usually run about $1 an envelope (if your doctor even chooses to charge you). I don’t recommend displaying or doing anything crafty with these x-ray films since you or someone close to you might need to access them in a medical emergency.

Best case scenario, your doctor will offer to recycle any x-ray films you don’t need to keep. If she doesn’t, call your local hospital and see if they accept old x-ray films. If neither your doctor or local hospital recycle them, check your county’s website to see if they have a recycling program for such items or if a recycling center in your area does. Most old x-rays have silver in them, which means that they’re relatively valuable in the recycling market. I’ve never had any difficulty finding a recycling center that accepts old x-ray films.

If you want to do something more creative and artsy with your old x-ray films, I suggest only using ones that have out-dated information on them. An image of your bones while you were still growing is probably safer to use than an image of your bones as an adult. Or, if you had a pin put in your ankle, an image before you had the pin put into it would be safer to use since it’s not how your ankle currently looks. X-rays are very personal information and you wouldn’t want it to get into the wrong hands and have to fight an insurance fraud case.

Thank you, Piper, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Posted by Erin on Apr 3, 2009 | 28 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: Nelson nuance

This week’s Workspace of the Week is DublinLifer’s mid-century minimalism:

I picked this week’s office because I have dreamed of owning a Nelson desk like this one for more than a decade. It’s stylish and simple and perfect for someone who doesn’t work from home. It can sit in a living room, complimented with an Eames shell chair just like this, and not turn the whole room into an office. This desk has function and form. Plus, its owner, has set it up in a clutter-free way. Am I smitten? Yes, I am.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by Erin on Apr 3, 2009 | 8 Comments | Tweet This

Making a family first aid kit

Today we welcome guest post author Geralin Thomas, the ideal professional organizer from Cary, NC, and her amazing advice for making a family first aid kit.

Whether it’s a scrape, a sting or a sore throat, being prepared and having the right antidote on hand can soothe almost anything that ails you or your children. Creating a family-friendly first aid kit doesn’t have to be a pain in the aspirin (hee hee hee).

The “kit” can be a backpack, large ice bucket, plastic cooler, metal toolbox, small suitcase or something similar. Look around your home and chances are, you will have a container that can be repurposed and is suitable for the job. The contents of the kit can be purchased from any drugstore. The idea of today’s post is to motivate you to organize, update and/or create a kit so you’re prepared.

Below is a list of possible items to include in your home remedy kit. While this list is far from perfect and won’t be appropriate for all families, it is a starting point. Please leave comments and share suggestions regarding what your own home remedy kit will contain.

  • An oral syringe, or calibrated cup and spoon for administering liquid medicines
  • Children’s strength liquid acetaminophen or ibuprofen (non-aspirin)
  • Pediatrician-approved children’s strength liquid decongestant
  • Anti-diarrhea medication
  • Antacid
  • Activated charcoal (use only if advised by the Poison Control Center)
  • Digital thermometer
  • Tweezers and a pair of sharp scissors
  • Latex gloves
  • Safety pins
  • Sterilized needle
  • Antibacterial ointment
  • Hydrocortisone cream (0.5% for children)
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Nasal aspirator bulb syringe
  • Variety of adhesive bandage strips
  • Gauze rolls, sterile
  • Gauze pads, sterile
  • Adhesive tape
  • Cotton pads and cotton swabs
  • Heating pad
  • Hot-water bottle and cover
  • Ice pack
  • Pedialyte Oral Electrolyte Solution

In addition to the store-bought items below, consider including an index card with the following information typed in a large, bold, easy-to-read font:

  • Mobile phone numbers of parents and the home address (in the event someone, in an emergency, can’t recall the home address)
  • Children’s full names, any known allergies and birthdates
  • Pediatrician’s name and phone number
  • Pharmacy’s phone number and address
  • American Red Cross First Aid — Responding to Emergencies

Posted by Geralin on Apr 2, 2009 | 24 Comments | Tweet This

Clothing swap parties

Clothing swap parties are an entertaining way for people to get rid of clothing items they no longer want. This practice of swapping clothes with friends is highlighted in a recent Seattle Times article:

Twice a year, more than a dozen women get together to rifle through everything from clothes and shoes to accessories and shampoo — leaving their excess items behind and going home with new treasures.

On a recent Thursday evening, Sherri Randall’s Eagle, Idaho, living room was strewn with boxes, clothing racks and piles of coats, gowns and jeans, some of which still displayed their original store tags. On a table in a back room were nail polish, a Swiffer sweeper, hair products, sunglasses and more.

“I thought we should gather up all this stuff that doesn’t fit or we don’t wear and share it,” Randall said.

I think this is a great idea, especially if the host agrees to take all the non-swapped items to a charity after the party is over.

Have any of our readers participated in such an activity? Please share your experience in the comments.

Posted by Matt on Apr 2, 2009 | 39 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Muffin Magic

muffin-magicAll Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Are you tired of making muffins the old fashioned way? Now you can make muffins in mere minutes with Muffin Magic!

The Muffin Magic is marketed as a space-saving alternative to the traditional way of baking a muffin. So, instead of owning an oven, you would own a Muffin Magic. Can you imagine having friends over to dinner and showing them your kitchen and explaining that you don’t own an oven because you have a Muffin Magic instead? “Tonight, we will have muffins with a side of muffins, followed by muffins for dessert!”

Did I mention this thing makes three whole muffins?

Thanks to reader Arielle for bringing this unitasker to our attention.

Posted by Matt on Apr 1, 2009 | 36 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

Posted by PJ on Apr 1, 2009 | 1 Comment | Tweet This

Unclutterer on tv with spring decluttering tips

Yesterday morning, I appeared live on WUSA 9, the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C.

For three minutes, I talked semi-coherently with news anchor Andrea Roane about clearing clutter from your kitchen pantry. Check it out:

Posted by Erin on Apr 1, 2009 | 34 Comments | Tweet This