For a lot of people, January means lots of cleaning and organizing, getting your place in ship shape so that you truly get a fresh start in the new year. Here are a few Do-It-Yourself projects that will help you and your ‘roomie’ clean up your act:
Cut down on the cleaning chemicals! All natural, homemade, ec0-friendly cleaning concoctions are easy to make, effective to use, and wallet-friendly to boot. Check out this guide to All Natural, Homemade Cleaners at Young House Love. Their robust list includes recipes for all purpose cleaners, oven cleaner, mildew and germ killer, plus materials to clean your windows, floors, wood, glass and chrome. Mix up a few cleaners, and make your creative space beautiful, clean, toxic free, and safe for you and your partner, kids, and pets.
Next get organized, and put some of that holiday trash to use. Cardboard boxes get a second life in this wall-mounted Recycled Cardboard Organizer via Design*Sponge. It will clean up some space on your desk top, while keeping your most-used items handy.
This Shelving Unit from decor8 is another great weekend DIY project for you and your partner. It’s quirky and fun, and is FULL of nooks and crannies for stashing, storing, and displaying your favourite pieces.
Antlers seem to be a point of contention in many shared spaces. Got a set in your space? Add a coat of low-VOC paint in your favourite hue, and put them to use as a coat rack, like this one seen on Remodelista.
While not exactly related to cleaning or organizing, this Vintage Postcard Calendar Journal from Design*Sponge could be a great DIY for you and your partner. At the end of each day, write down something significant that happened–something fun you did together, a challenge that came up in your business, or a goal that you conquered that day. Next year, you can reflect on how much your relationship/business/life has changed and evolved in 2012.
Meg
Meg is creative, energetic, and always on the go. She has a background in Canadian Studies and in Interior Design, and loves finding new, inspiring places both locally and abroad. She loves coffee and chocolate, and long walks on the beach with her puppy, Finnegan
