It’s December.  Time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions.  A recent Google search revealed that “getting organized” inevitably falls into the “top ten” category of New Year’s resolutions. Casa Latina is proud to present  IKEA’s smart and affordable ideas for getting organized in 2011 and beyond.

Tips For An Organized Home

In The Living Room

• Don’t let technology consume the living room! Modular wall units store all the “pieces” and can be reconfigured as media equipment evolves.

• The living room has become THE multifunctional room of the home.  Products like sleep sofas with built-in storage for guest linens, and laptop tables that fold closed help create a room that keeps everything organized and at hand when needed, hidden away when not.

• Control visual clutter and help impart a sense of order and unity by using storage containers of different sizes and shapes, but in the same color.

In The Kitchen

• Freeing up counter space gives a more organized feel and makes the kitchen easier to clean. Add wall organizers that make use of overlooked wall space.

• Organize drawers from a bird’s eye view. It’s easier to look down into a drawer to find necessary items. Use drawer dividers to designate sections for each item.

• Take advantage of every available space, like under the kitchen sink, by adding slide-out garbage and recycling bins. Use behind the door storage racks for items like sponges, brushes and plastic wrap.

In The Bedroom

• Control clutter by clustering small bottles and containers on attractive trays, and maximize space with benches and ottomans that provide both seating and storage.

• Extend the life of shoes by storing them where there is sufficient air circulation to prevent damage from perspiration. Also, use shoe forms to help them maintain their proper shape.

Everywhere Else

• In the hall or entryway, try a seating area with built-in storage and hooks to keep jackets, shoes and gloves at hand for the morning rush!

• In the home office, make it a resolution to stay organized by sorting mail and recycling excess paper daily.

In most homes, big or small, there’s a lot of stuff. And it’s not easy to organize because organization is not just storage.  And it’s not just about throwing everything away.  It’s about making space for the important things in life, using smart layout, good design and creative storage products.

The key is to use a few organizational basics, like embracing the multi-functional mantra: double duty is good, triple duty is better.  Look for space-saving solutions and products in all sizes.  Use neglected wall space to hang stuff up until it’s needed.  It’s all about making your furniture and accessories work as hard as you do.

IKEA understands how people live at home and they use their knowledge to create relevant organizational solutions:

Organize Your Bedroom

Maximize space by replacing a single clothing rod with two at different heights for items such as skirts and shirts.   Look for products that maximize small spaces.

Use hooks or small shelves to keep little items under control and wire baskets to allow for proper air ventilation for items such as sweaters.

Extend the life of your shoe collection by keeping them properly aired and stored upright to hold their shape.

 Organize Your Livingroom

To avoid visual clutter in a small space, keep items such as a collection of DVDs and CDs organized and contained.  First, sort through your items, and then look for appropriate containers for CDs or DVDs, available in a variety of colors and styles.  Choose colors that coordinate with other furnishings in the room for visual consistency.

The living room can also serve as a guest room sometimes, so it’s handy to find ways to store bedding.  Look for furniture that can easily convert to a bed and provide extra built-in storage.

Organize Your Kitchen

Kitchen islands are a great way to add extra work space.  Even a small kitchen can benefit by adding a portable island at the end of a counter.  Use the space underneath to store extra pots and pans or hold a recycling container.

Organize the kitchen by creating “work stations,” just like restaurants do.  Establish stations for prepping, cooking, baking and cleaning with free-standing units that make it easy to establish “zones”.  Store items needed for these tasks as close as possible to each station.

Home furnishings often take their cue from the fashion world, and one of the biggest trends right now is soothing tones like gray and brown. This month, IKEA presents products and tips for bringing the comforting warmth of these sophisticated colors into the living room.

Tips for bringing a gray/brown living room to life:

First, determine if the gray/brown palette will be expressed through larger pieces of furniture, or through accessories. There are advantages to each. Using browns and grays in furnishings like sofas or chairs provides the option to change the look and color scheme of the room easily with textiles and accessories. If the larger furniture pieces are bolder in design and color, use the opposite tactic. Use these pieces as the accent color or pattern of the room and introduce brown and gray with the textiles and smaller furnishings.

many shades of gray

A fun aspect of working with neutral colors is exploring the many beautiful variations within a particular hue. Experiment with placing very dark and very light versions of the same color together for more contrast. Consider patterns that combine varying shades of gray and brown tones. A single contrasting accent color can add an interesting variation to the overall plan.

gray and brown…but not boring

One trick when working with grays and browns is to use a variety of textures to keep the overall look fresh and exciting. Look for accessories like nubby fabric throws and area rugs, shiny glass accents and silky, smooth pillows.

baby steps

If an overall gray/brown color scheme seems too much of a good thing, start small. Introduce the color in limited doses through lampshades, throw rugs and curtains. This is a great way to work elements of these fashion-forward colors into a room plan without completely committing.

drama queen

Grays and browns don’t have to be shy and retiring when they have the right partners! Try bright white on moldings and doorways for a beautiful contrast when grays and browns are the predominant wall color. Or use intense black accents on a leather sofa or a shiny black coffee table for extra pizzazz.

Todos parecen tener muchas preguntas sobre qué cosas deben considerar a la hora de escoger electrodomésticos para la cocina. Este mes, IKEA te presenta consejos útiles sobre cómo escoger electrodomésticos que funcionan de una manera práctica y eficiente.

Consejos para escoger electrodomésticos:

HORNOS Y ESTUFAS
¿De gas o eléctricos: Esta es una de las primeras decisions que tendrás que tomar al escoger un horno o una estufa. Los hornos y estufas de gas reaccionan instantáneamente a cambios, proporcionan un control preciso y tienen bajos costos de funcionamiento, mientras que los eléctricos proporcionan un calentamiento uniforme y son más económicos. Considera el tipo de comida que cocinas y tu presupuesto para hacer tu decisión.

Características: Considera tus necesidades diarias para determinar qué características necesitas, desde funciones de autolimpieza y cocinar a la parrilla hasta temporizadores automáticos.

Ubicación: Dos hornos apilados proporcionan sufi ciente espacio para hornear y cocinar, mientras liberan espacio en el suelo. Una estufa de gas separada puede crear un área de cocinar adicional en un banco de trabajo.

NEVERAS
Efi ciencia: Los estándares de energía para las neveras han cambiado drásticamente desde que se implementaron mandates en el 1993 y el 1998. Busca una nevera califi cada Energy Star® para ahorrar energía y en costos de funcionamiento.

Capacidad: Cuenta con una nevera con 12 pies cúbicos de espacio para dos personas y 2 pies cúbicos para cada persona adicional. Características que ahorran espacio, como cajones y cubos extraíbles y transparentes, facilitan encontrar y organizer los alimentos.

Características: Busca por características como aparatos empotrados de agua y hielo, estantes ajustables y mandos de temperatura separados para facilitar tu vida en la cocina.

LAVAPLATOS
Muy prácticos: Los lavaplatos, como las neveras, deben ser califi cados Energy Star®. Además de ser más higiénico que lavar a mano, un lavaplatos también ahorra agua y tiempo.

Características: Considera el tamaño de tu familia para determinar la capacidad necesaria del lavaplatos. Los modelos estándares acomodan hasta diez servicios, mientras los modelos “tall tub” acomodan hasta 14. Otras características incluyen secado con aire, lo que ahorra energía, opciones de inicio diferido para que funcione fuera de las horas pico y enjuague sanitario que mata la mayoría de los gérmenes y bacterias.

Productos Recomendados

Microondas empotrado NUTID $699
Acero inoxidable. 10 niveles de potencia. Funciones de autococinar, recalentar y descongelar. Este
microondas tiene muchísimas opciones, como la función de autococinar con siete categorías preprogramadas. La instalación en un armario alto proporciona una cómoda altura de trabajo y libera
espacio en la encimera.

Horno doble empotrado MUMSIG $1499
Este horno de convección ofrece dos hornos para un calentamiento superior e inferior, e incluye funciones para asar, hornear pasteles, de autolimpieza y hasta tiene un temporizador automático.

Everyone seems to have many questions about what’s important when choosing kitchen appliances. This month, IKEA presents useful tips on how to choose appliances that don’t just work, but work smarter.

Tips for choosing appliances:

OVENS AND RANGES

Gas vs. electric: This is one of the first decisions to make when choosing an oven or range. Gas provides instant response, precise controllability and lower operating costs, while electric provides even heat and a lower appliance cost. Consider the types of food cooked and your budget.

Features: Consider daily use to determine the features needed, from self-cleaning functions, to basting and grilling functions, and automatic timers.

Layout: Double-stacked ovens provide plenty of capacity for baking and cooking while freeing up floor space. A separate range can create an additional cooking area on a central island.

REFRIGERATORS

Efficiency: Refrigerator energy standards have changed drastically since being mandated in 1993 and 1998. Look for a refrigerator that is Energy Star® qualified to save on energy and operating costs.

Capacity: Plan on 12 cubic feet of refrigerator space for two people and add 2 more cubic feet for each additional person. Space-saving features like pull-out and transparent drawers and bins make it easier to find and organize food.

Features: Look for features like built-in water and ice dispensers, adjustable shelves and separate temperature controls to make life easier.

DISHWASHERS

Practicality: Like refrigerators, dishwashers should be Energy Star® qualified. Besides being more hygienic than hand-washing, a dishwasher also saves water and time.

Features: Consider family size when determining necessary dishwasher capacity. Standard models accommodate up to ten place settings, tall tub models up to 14. Other options include energy-saving air-drying, delay timers for “off peak” energy hours and sani-rinse options which kill most germs and bacteria.

Other Featured Appliances

NUTID built-in microwave oven $699

Stainless steel. 10 power levels. Auto cook, reheat and defrost functions. This feature-rich microwave has an auto-cook function with seven preset categories. Installation in a high cabinet provides a comfortable work height and clears countertop work space.

MUMSIG built-in double oven $1499

This convection oven features two ovens for top and bottom heating and includes functions for grilling, pastries and self-cleaning, plus an automatic timer.

Edited by Nora Díaz Bretherton

Going green. It seems to be on everyone’s mind these days.

Casa Latina is proud to partner with IKEA to present some helpful tips and product ideas that can easily be incorporated into your home and lifestyle. As consumers, we need to become aware of what we buy so we can integrate eco friendly products into our everyday lives. By changing our habits in small ways we can make a large collective impact.

IKEA brainstormed with Green Guru Danny Seo for ideas on small changes and mindful products that can have a big impact on the environment:

Tips for Home

• Use the IKEA blue bag for all shopping trips. It’s big, reusable and lightweight. Place one in the car, in your briefcase, wherever they’ll work as a handy reminder to bring along to any store.
• Use a water filtering pitcher or system and a reusable container to avoid buying individual plastic water bottles. (Also good for on the go!)
• Use adjustable blinds to control heat build up from direct sunlight, reducing energy costs.

Tips for Work

• Make it company policy for all printing to be double sided. Reuse the backside of paper that would otherwise be discarded to create memo pads.
• Offer premium parking to employees using fuel efficient vehicles.
• Store and reuse packing materials such as bubble wrap and packing peanuts.

Tips for on the Road

• Use group shuttle services for transportation from airport to hotel, rather than individual taxis.
• Most hotels participate in linen and towel reuse programs. Request towels and linens only when necessary and not on a daily basis.
• Little things add up! Turn off all lights, and shut down laptops when leaving the room. Close curtains to keep room cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Lower the heat or air conditioner when out of the room.

BEHANDLA Stain (13.oz)

• Made of natural linseed oil and water

JANSJO Desk Light

• Includes light diode
• Has 50 times longer life than an incandescent bulb
• Consumes less energy
• Never has to be replace

IKEA PS GULLHOLMEN Rocker

• Made from banana leaves – a by product of harvesting industry-
• Made of a renewable, recyclable material

KAJSA TRAD Full/Queen Cover Set

• 100% cotton
• Free of harmful optical brighteners

Editado por Nora Díaz Bretherton

Cuidar el medio ambiente. Hoy en día, parece ser una de nuestras prioridades.

Casa Latina se enorgullece en presentar, en asociación con IKEA, algunos consejos e ideas útiles sobre productos que pueden ser incorporados fácilmente en su hogar y estilo de vida. Como consumidores, debemos ser conscientes de lo que compramos para poder integrar productos ecológicos a nuestra vida cotidiana. Pequeños cambios en nuestros hábitos pueden tener un gran efecto colectivo.

IKEA y el gurú en ecología Danny Seo pusieron en común una serie de ideas sobre pequeños cambios y productos ecológicos que pueden tener un gran efecto en el cuidado del medio ambiente:

Consejos para el hogar

• Utilice la bolsa azul de IKEA para todas las compras. Es grande, reutilizable y liviana. Tenga una en el automóvil, en su cartera o maletín o en cualquier sitio a mano para recordar llevarla toda vez que vaya a al mercado.
• Utilice jarras o sistemas de filtro de agua y envases reutilizables para evitar comprar botellas plásticas de agua individuales. (También son buenos para llevar.)
• Utilice persianas ajustables para controlar la acumulación de calor por la exposición directa al sol y así ahorrar energía.

Consejos para el trabajo

• Haga que sea política de la empresa imprimir todas las hojas doble faz. Reutilice la cara posterior de las hojas que ya no se usan para crear blocs de notas.
• Ofrezca estacionamiento especial para los empleados que usen vehículos eficientes en cuanto al consumo de combustible.
• Guarde y reutilice el material de embalaje, como los envoltorios de plástico con burbujas y las bolitas de poliestireno.

Consejos para los viajes

• Utilice servicios de traslado grupales para llegar del aeropuerto al hotel, en lugar de taxis individuales.
• La mayoría de los hoteles participan de programas de reutilización de la ropa de cama y las toallas. Solicite toallas y ropa de cama sólo cuando sea necesario y no todos los días.
• ¡Hasta los detalles más pequeños suman! Apague todas las luces y la computadora portátil cuando sale de la habitación. Cierre las cortinas para mantener la habitación fresca en verano y cálida en invierno. Baje la calefacción o el aire acondicionado cuando sale del lugar.

BEHANDLA Tintura (13 Oz)

• Hecha de aceite natural de linaza y agua

JANSJÖ Luz para escritorio

• Incluye diodo emisor de luz.
• Tiene una vida útil 50 veces más prolongada que una bombilla incandescente
• Consume menos energía
• Nunca necesitará reemplazo.

IKEA PS GULLHOLMEN Mecedora

• Hecha de hojas de plátano, un producto derivado de la cosecha, y
• Hecha de material renovable y reciclable.

KAJSA TRÄD Juego de Edredón de Dos Plazas/Tamaño Queen

• 100% algodón
• Libre de abrillantadores ópticos nocivos