When it comes to stowing your stuff, we tend to fall into one of two camps: the outies, who keep their things out and within easy reach, and the innies, who hide everything in a closet or inside a drawer. The trick to finding tools and systems that will keep your house in order depends on knowing your personal style. The March 2010 issue of ShopSmart features the ultimate organizing guide, with advice on the four biggest trouble spots and how to determine if you’re an innie or an outie.

“Before you jump to conclusions, outies aren’t necessarily slobs and innies aren’t necessarily neat freaks,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “No matter what your personal storage style, you can get it     together by checking out our easy clutter control tips.”

OUTIE: If you’re an outie, you worry that you’ll forget something if it’s not in plain sight. You work best with organizing tools that provide an instant view of what’s inside. Here are some of ShopSmart’s tips for outies:

Desk: Your ideas flow best when you see what you have around you. But to keep piles and sprawl down:

• Hang a shelf. It’s a great use of space, and it helps avoid piles when you run out of desktop real estate.
• Organize up. Vertical storage helps you group similar items and keeps the desk clutter-free.

Closet: Using hooks and shelves can help you assess frequently worn clothes fast. Here are some other ways to help you save time and prioritize your stuff:

• Let it all hang out. Hang handbags, scarves and belts on a decorative coat rack.
• Use cubbies. An open-cube storage system is great for letting you see items at a glance.

Jewelry: Even with jewelry, you want visibility at a glance. Here’s how to keep it looking neat, not cluttered:

• Hang it on the wall. Hang a fabric-covered cushion board and drape the jewelry over nails or pins.
• Drape it. A specifically designed jewelry tree or even a small sculpture with branching arms looks nice on a dresser and provides the perfect perch for loop earrings and necklaces.

Junk Drawer: If it’s out of sight, it might end up out of mind. Put junk-drawer stuff on display:

• Think transparent. Small, see-through glass jars can house change, push pins, rubber bands and more.
• Be smart about hooks. Pull items out of the drawer and hang them.

INNIE: If you’re an innie, your priority is having a calm and serene visual slate, so select closed containers in a single hue or pattern for a spare and tidy look. Here are some of ShopSmart’s tips for innies:

Desk: You derive a sense of serenity from a clean, spare work surface. Clutter is distracting. To keep it serene:

• Limit the color palette. Keep desk accessories within a limited color range to maintain calm.
• Separate your stuff. Use drawer organizers or modular drawer inserts for supplies and papers.

Closet: You need systems that you can trust and that are instinctive and obvious. Grouping like things together is one tried-and-true tactic. Here are some others:

• Keep hangers the same. It eliminates visual clutter.
• Group clothing by length. It’s an easy way to find stuffy and frees up more floor space.

Jewelry: You like to put things in compartments and behind closed doors, so invest in a nice jewelry box. Or try these other options:

• Use two boxes. Keep a small box for the pieces you wear frequently and a larger one to tame and conceal the items you use less often.
• Outfit a drawer. Velvet-lined jewelry trays or inserts that fit inside a draw can accommodate everything.

Junk Drawer: By nature, you’re a stasher but you also like things tidy and serene. Here’s how to keep the junk drawer from becoming a jumble:

• Divide and conquer. Try using modular drawer organizers that fit their contents precisely.
• Make it uniform. Simple organizers with similar shapes will keep the look consistent.

About ShopSmart magazine:

Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.

Even though the weather has turned cold and we’ve put our garden roses to bed for the winter, that doesn’t mean we have to be rose-deprived until spring. Miniature roses adapt quite well to life indoors. They are a bit more particular about light and humidity than some indoor flowering plants, but they will reward the extra effort with stunning flowers that come in a wide range of colors.

For the most part, miniature roses are scaled-down versions of full-sized roses, and while they vary in many ways, all mini roses have small, rarely fragrant flowers. Plants can range from micro-minis (5 inches or less) to 3 to 4 feet or even larger. Flowers can be anywhere from 1/2 to 2 inches across, with a color range as broad as for full-size roses.

Mini roses need plenty of bright light, such as in a bright west- or south-facing window. But for repeat bloom, you’ll need the supplementary light provided by fluorescent tubes. Also provide some extra humidity around the plants because indoor air is typically quite dry. Set plants in a water-filled tray on a layer of pebbles, or use a room humidifier. If humidity is too low, the leaves will shrivel, turn yellow, and drop. Here are some other tips:

1. Buy new plants each season to ensure that your plants are free of diseases and pests. Choose varieties that are short and especially floriferous.
2. Fertilize weekly with a fertilizer diluted to one-quarter strength. To encourage blooms, use a fertilizer with a formula high in potassium, such as 5-5-10.
3. Watch carefully for any sign of pests. Spray whiteflies with a lightweight horticultural oil. If spider mites become a problem, wash plants thoroughly every 2 to 3 days. For a severe infestation of spider mites, strip all leaves and cut the plant back by half. Healthy new growth will emerge rapidly.
4. Use a commercial potting mixture containing perlite and vermiculite when repotting.
5. When flowering has finished, place plants under fluorescent lights to encourage reblooming in about six weeks.
6. After the last frost in spring, gradually acclimate plants to outdoor air. Plant them in the garden or in an outdoor container.

For more tips and garden information visit www.garden.org

Lighting does so much more than provide illumination. Designers know that it can be used to change the whole look and feel of a room.

Think about how you want each room to feel when you walk in. Active or intimate? Inspiring or dramatic? The types of lighting, their placement in the room – even the type of bulb used – all affect the room’s atmosphere.

These tips from Mary Beth Gotti, a lighting expert with GE Consumer & Industrial, can help you create just the right mood.

Cozy

If kicking back in fuzzy slippers and relaxing with a good book is appealing, create a cozy atmosphere.

• Highlight the seating area with ambient lighting, and focus track lights on centerpieces. This draws the eye to the central glow.
• Use lighting that emits a soft, warm glow, such as GE Energy Smart and Soft White bulbs.
• Incorporate lamps for reading. A reading lamp should be tall enough to shine onto the pages of the book, but not into the reader’s eyes. A floor lamp positioned behind the reader is ideal.
• Torchieres and wall sconces create a warm glow in living rooms and other spaces.  A working fireplace adds to the feeling of comfort.
• Light pictures from above using a ceiling spotlight.

Active

To create a motivating environment that maximizes productivity:

• Use bright general overhead, or ambient, lighting along with focused task lighting for work areas.
• Recessed downlights can effectively light countertops and other work surfaces in kitchens.
• Under-the-counter lighting also provides great task illumination in kitchens.

Welcoming

Make guests feel right at home with a warm and welcoming environment.

• Outside, keep a well-lit walkway. This directs visitors to the entrance and makes them feel at ease. Using bulbs such as GE Energy Smart Outdoor Floodlights can put welcoming light wherever it’s needed.
• Inside, gentle ambient light makes people feel comfortable. For added relaxation, illuminate the walls and the ceiling to avoid menacing shadows.
• Utilize accent lighting to showcase an interesting object. This arouses guests’ anticipation of the rest of the house, urging them forward.

Intimate

To create a romantic room that will leave you starry-eyed:

• Avoid overhead lighting – it can cause a harsh glare.
• Add dimmer switches to give versatility to lighting fixtures.
• Use a variety of lamps to create a comfortable glow; use shades with warm or dark colors.

Get more tips on designing with light at gelighting.com.

It’s surprisingly easy to be green in the kitchen. Recycle your cans, eat organic and bring your own reusable totes to the grocery store. However, when it comes to kitchen cleaning, a lot of us still choose old-school methods to do the dirty work. With a little know-how and terrific new products, clean and green can go hand-in-hand. Take, for instance, the Lindley™ pullout faucet (on the left) or the Anabelle™ pullout faucet (on the right) in the new Mediterranean bronze finish from Moen.   Both feature a low-flow setting to conserve water for everyday tasks, such as dishwashing. But with a touch of the button, you can easily switch to a higher flow rate when you need it—like, for filling big pots of water quickly.

Other ways to green your KITCHEN routine:

• Mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle to make a natural streak-free cleaner.

• Mix baking soda, a little dishwashing liquid, and water for a natural, non-abrasive oven cleaner.

• Skip the pre-rinse cycle on your dishwasher to save water. Instead, give plates a quick rinse with the spray stream of the pullout wand before loading.

• The patented pause button is another handy way to conserve the flow of water. Instead of running the water constantly, hit pause and pull the wand out beyond the sink to perform tasks like watering plants.

Anabelle is available at Lowe’s, and Lindley is available at The Home Depot.  Visit moen.com for more product details, features and information on where to buy.

As the saying goes, there’s no place like home. And these days people are looking for ways to make their home a more enjoyable living space.

 “Rather than flipping homes, like people did when the housing market was strong, we’re seeing more and more families embracing what they already have,” says Bob Maricich, president and CEO of World Market Center Las Vegas. “The idea of refreshing one’s environment, even in the smallest ways, can have a restorative power and transform a house to a home.”

Home furnishing experts say that it’s important to recognize that it’s the littlest things that matter when you’re making enhancements to your home. Simple touches of a new sofa or end table, rug or even a decorative lamp shade will create a different look and feel to a room or space. This is a small lifestyle change, and not an unobtainable luxury.

 Timeless Trends

Nancy Robinson and Julie M. Smith, of Nine Muses Media, have put together some timeless trends that will help you visualize and explore the possibilities for updating your home.

Calm Yourself

Living with a neutral interior palette is like being enveloped by a cloud. Get the look by blanketing rooms in the softest neutral shades: cream, mocha and, most especially (and perhaps surprisingly), gray. “A dash of a neutral metallic accent, such as silver, adds a welcome sparkle,” said Robinson. “It’s like sunlight peeking through the clouds.”

Distressed to Impress

Modern Country is ageless and exudes a comforting charm that takes imperfection to new heights. Natural finishes, heavily distressed surfaces, reclaimed woods, rattan, wicker and other natural textures are livable finishes for busy families. And the look fits farmhouse style or urban loft with equal ease.

Ethnic Inspiration

Far-reaching global influences are no longer far flung. Ethnic-inspired fabrics are turning up all over in American homes. “The organic patterns, vibrant color palettes and handcrafted looks create an aura of sophisticated warmth,” said Smith. What to look for: motifs inspired by traditional African design; susani patterns from Central Asia; ikats and batiks from Indonesia; and handblocked woodprints from India.

 Power Play

Smaller footprint, lighter weight and better performance are important purchase considerations when buying a new laptop. The same things matter when buying home office furniture. In fact, Robinson and Smith note that as laptops have become the most popular home computing choice among consumers, so, too, have writing tables and petite desks moved to the fore. Unlike their executive suite predecessors, these modestly scaled workstations don’t take up an entire room. Instead, they slip easily into most interiors, providing needed workspace without taking up too much space – or too much money.

Refreshing your nest doesn’t have to be out of reach. With a few simple changes it’s possible to fall in love with your home all over again.

For more inspiration and tips, visit HomeYet.com.

MEET MARLENE

Marlene Pratt, Interior design expert

Marlene Pratt – Casa Latina’s resident home improvement expert – has over a decade of interior design and renovation experience. Marlene has served as co-host of Discovery Channel’s Fix-It Line, hosted Telemundo’s Saturday morning ” Mehorando Su Hogar” home improvement segment and appeared on FOX, CBS, WNBC, CNN and WB’s WPIX-TV as an interior design/renovation expert.

Marlene has also been featured in major magazines including Latina, Good Housekeeping, Parent and People En Español. As co-creator of Casa Latina, she is now dedicating her time, experience and enthusiasm to Casa Latina!

MARLENE’S MISSION

“My mission as an interior designer is to beautify the world and leave no room untouched by creativity. Deep down I believe everyone is capable of design, but the fear of not doing it right or not actually finding the time to do the project keeps people from living to their desired style. This works to my advantage, for if everyone had the time or were creative, I would not be able to make a living.”

“The biggest fear most people have with design is selecting new colors. I have discovered that they are wary of changing colors because it is difficult to envision what the end result will be after repainting a room for a second time. I ask my clients to be bold and to allow me add a little color into their lives; together we’ll explore how to integrate color and end up loving it”

“My job as a designer is not to impose my tastes on you, but rather to educate you. I’ll give you the best possible advice and work around any given object. I am obliged to always give you my most honest option, which may not always be the same as yours. With Casa Latina I will share my knowledge, passion for design and a lot of little secrets and tips I have learned along the way.”

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

“I have two main philosophies as a designer. The first is that you don’t have to spend a million dollars to acquire a million dollar look. There are affordable ways to redecorate or renovate rooms in your home without having to break the bank.”

“Not everyone has the budget or the desire to go out and buy everything new, but if you take a good look around your home you will be surprised that many items staring you in the face can be used to obtain a different look or function. For example, the chest that’s been sitting in your bedroom collecting dust for years can now be relocated to the living room and, by just placing a piece of glass on it, you can create a new coffee table.”

Not only does it look good, but you’ve saved yourself a few hundred dollars.

“I strongly believe that your home should be a reflection of who you are at all stages of your life. A part of all the individual personalities who live in the home should be reflected in its décor and style. As Latinos, our ethnicity is important to us and we should integrate elements of our heritage into our home. This is not to say that one should completely change one’s style or preference. But keepsakes and mementos can be displayed in an orderly manner; they do not have to be eliminated to create an exciting new look!”