Reasoning Theorems of Success

For those renters who do not have the option of making permanent changes to the walls, woodwork, floors or architecture of their home or apartment, there are several quick fixes which can be used to dress up or hide the ‘uglies’ or to create more storage. All of these are affordable and within the abilities of everyone.

One of the most useful is screening. You can buy or have decorative room screens made, but they are very expensive and have some drawbacks. You can also go to your local home store and in the section devoted to closet doors pick up pre-hinged, bi-fold doors in various widths. These come in plain flush doors as well as louvered, paneled and even mirrored. They come finished and unfinished. You can paint them, cover them in fabric, or simply place them as they are in front of anything which throws a room off or is just unfortunate to look at. You can hide an ugly view from a window, create a work area for a computer or hide the children’s toys. The advantage to these closet doors is that they are taller than most decorative screens and therefore tend to look more like a part of the room. Shorter hinged shelves which are made for windows or pass-throughs can be set on low bookshelves, desks or tables as dividers or simply to hide items which need to be accessible but don’t add to the look of a room such as laundry baskets, or spare towels. Sit a few plants or a small chair or decorative table in front of a screen and you create a pleasant small scene which adds to your room and hides a problem. These are totally portable and can always be taken with you to your next apartment.

Architectural details such as columns, pieces of pediment or cornice can be used to hide an ugly heat duct or an awkwardly placed outlet. If they are set slightly out from a wall and grouped they won’t block the airflow but they will block the objectionable item.

Fabric is affordable and useful. You don’t need to be a seamstress. Iron on fusion tape is available for non-sewers. Fabric can be stapled on screens. It can be wrapped around a piece of plywood to create a headboard, draped over a table to add color and incidentally create a hiding place underneath where storage is needed.

Strippable wallpaper borders and cut-outs can be used to add interest and can be easily removed when you tire of them or need to move on. They are a way of adding interest to a room which lacks architectural distinction and unlike the larger projects of papering whole rooms; these are easily managed by someone without experience. A border near a ceiling is best done with two people if it is your first attempt. Rolls of strippable paper are available at most wallpaper outlets. You can cut out sections or pieces of wallpaper and apply to kitchen cabinets if they have a Formica or laminate finish, to walls in bedrooms or bathrooms and to add interest to foyers and hallways. Wallpaper can also be used to cover the screen dividers mentioned above as well as lampshades and other items. You can usually find books which will give you all sorts of ideas for this useful product.

Finally, lucite or plexiglass can be used to make airy shelving for books, plants and collectibles. It can be rested on bricks, pavers, columns or even fabric covered cartons. Cut to size on a cocktail or end table, it can be used to cover a picture montage or an interesting fabric.
Most home stores will cut it to size for you.

There are many other problem solvers available and I suggest a leisurely stroll through any home improvement store. When you go, take a list of the problem areas to be hidden or improved along with measurements and photographs if you have them. Look at everything from door knobs to 2X4’s as possibilities for quick projects. You will be surprised at what you will find that is affordable, readily available and a perfect temporary solution to decorating problems.

Contributions to this article by ON THE GO 4 U design consultant, Suzanne Copenhaver.

Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles, is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area, providing life management services. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops. Ms. Books is the Vice President for the International Concierge & Errand Association. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net.

© 2006 Indra A Books for ON THE GO 4 U

Having a baby can be very expensive, and so if you can find ways to cut corners, it’s worth doing. That’s where homemade baby wipes can be of great benefit. Not only do you save money, you can also be more confident what it is that you’re using on your baby’s precious skin. You can be reassured there’s nothing that might cause irritation.

Like baby wipes you purchase in a store, homemade baby wipes are portable and convenient. To make them, start with a roll of paper towels, such as Viva or Bounty. You will also need baby bath liquid, water, and a sturdy plastic container with a lid. I’m sure you can already see how you’re saving money - buying baby wipes costs from $3 to $5 a package. You’re paying for chemicals, fragrance, alcohol or other ingredients that dry the skin, and water. The ingredients listed for homemade baby wipes make two batches of wipes, so you’re only paying around 60 cent per package. Even better, you choose the baby bath liquid, and can therefore use organic or all natural if you wish to.

Firstly, choose a cylindrical plastic container, slightly bigger than a quart container. It needs to be tall enough to hold a roll of paper towels cut in half (so a bit bigger than a roll of toilet paper). Make sure the container’s lid fits tightly. Use a sharp blade to cut an “x” slit in middle of the lid.

Now, cut your roll of paper towel in half using a sharp knife. You will end up with two smaller rolls that look quite similar to rolls of toilet paper. Put one half of the paper towel roll into the container.

Grab a bowl, and mix together 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of the baby bath liquid. Pour this mixture into your homemade baby wipes container. Now you can go and make yourself a coffee, as you’ll need to wait about five minutes while the paper towels soak up the bath liquid mixture. Once the five minutes has passed, gently pull the cardboard core out of the middle of the paper towel roll. As you pull the core out, the innermost piece of paper towel should follow it up. Pull the piece of paper towel through the slit you cut in the container’s lid, and put the lid back on.

Now, when you’re ready to use a wipe, just pull the paper towel up through the lid of the container. The paper towel is perforated, so it will tear off easily at the perforation, leaving the next wipe poking through the lid, ready to use when you need it.

The container works well when you’re at home, but homemade baby wipes can also be used when you’re out and about. Pull out the number of baby wipes you’ll need and put them in a zip lock plastic bag. You can then just unzip the bag and take out a wipe when you need one, or you can cut a small hole in the bag to pull through one end of the first wipe, ready for use. In that case you may want to put the whole zip lock bag inside a plastic portable wipes box, both to stop them leaking and protect them from drying out in the air. Now you have portable homemade baby wipes!

Homemade baby wipes are very simple to make, cheap, convenient and much better for your baby’s skin - so make your own today!

Find heaps more great money saving baby ideas at Info About Baby You can sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips Newsletter. The author’s book about babies is available at Baby’s First Year