Welcome to the Guide to Awesome Living (GAL)! I’m Virnelli Mercader, Communications Development Officer of CDC Holdings Inc. but I’m also a wife, a mother, and a dabbler in cookery (nope, I’m not a chef), DIY projects and home decorating. In this blog you will find a lot of tips on day to day awesome living, specially geared for those living in a condo whether you are a singleton, starting a family, or have little kids running around.
I’ll also be featuring some homeowners of Manila Rivercity Residences and Lions Park Residences on this blog so everyone can get a glimpse of how they “Live, Love where the river flows” and how it’s so good to “Come home to where your heart belongs”.
So feel free to check in every week for your Guide to Awesome Living!
Because you deserve to live an awesome life,
Virnelli Mercader
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No storage? No Problem!
Easy solutions for additional storage in a tight space
One of the most common dilemmas that a condo dweller faces is the utter lack of storage and closet space in a condo. Well, fret no more, as I have the solution for your storage woes!
- Underbed storage
That space under your bed can be a prime storage area. Simply slide plastic bins or wicker baskets underneath to store bedding, linens, or clothing. Just remember to keep things clean down there. Cobwebs and dustballs can quickly accumulate under the bed. You don’t want a dust bunny living with your favorite sweater, right?
- Toy storage a problem? Not anymore!
Plastic bins are good to have to corral all your kids’ toys. I like the stackable, clear ones so you can see what’s inside. If you’re a tad OC like me, you can label the bins so dolls and accessories stay together, another bin will hold building blocks… you get the idea.
- Your door can hold your stuff too
Yes, all you gotta do is attach a screw-on metal hook on your wooden door (or closet door) and hang mesh or toiletry bags with different compartments to hold mail and receipts, accessories, toiletries, remote controls and gadgets and chargers, or school and office supplies. This eliminates the need for a junk drawer. Bonus: since you can clearly see what’s inside, it’s easy to separate what you truly need from the stuff that needs to go in the garbage can.
- Proud of your kid’s artwork but don’t know how and where to display it?
A simple, playful solution is to string some nylon cord or braided yarn across your kids’ room. For a clean effect, the cord or yarn should match the color of the ceiling. Make sure that it’s high enough so it doesn’t catch you in the face when you walk in, but not so high that you can’t reach it. Then, attach your kids’ artwork using decorative clothespins. Wooden clothespins will work too, it will give it some rustic charm. Avoid the plastic clothespins- too tacky.
- No room for a dresser?
That’s quite annoying, specially for us ladies who need a place to beautify ourselves. Since dressers can be quite bulky and can eat up major space in a condo, a practical solution is to buy a mirror that has a simple shape and border, like light or dark colored wood, or white plastic. It has to be big enough that when you stand, you can see at least from the top of your head down to your mid section. A two and a half feet by two feet mirror should do it. Hang it just so, also consider that while you’re sitting down you should be able to see your face without craning your neck. Now, get a small bedside table that matches the color of the mirror’s border. Position it so that it’s right under the mirror. This will be your dresser, so at this point you can now arrange your toiletries and cosmetics on it. It’s even better if you get a bedside table with at least 2 drawers for extra storage. Now add a poufy stool, and voila! Instant dresser
There you have it, easy, chic and practical solutions for your storage problems. Keep on visiting this blog for more storage and decorating tips!
Because you deserve to live an awesome life,
Virnelli Mercader
