Reclaiming Old Spaces: Home Office for Less

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Overwhelmed by the scope of a home makeover? Staring down the barrel of a budget blaster is enough to shake anyone's nerves, but renovations don't have to cost an arm and a leg. We're here to give you some easy tips for redoing a room, and prove how quick and easy it was... with pictures!

First thing that you'll want to do in a home renovation is clean house. But why shower if I'm just going to get dirty again?! Well, eat your vegetables and we'll tell you: it's because you're going to encounter a lot of household clutter in the mean time. Having a pre-clean plan helps to make the final touches that much easier (and more final). Depending on how much you'll have to remove, you may be able to contact a few local treasure hunters to pay you for your bounty.

Roadshows. They Happen.

Once you get paid for some of those old treasures (thank you, Craigslist!) you'll have a bit of spending cash and a bit more room. Should you invest that money in contractors and designers? Goodness, no! Use that dough to get paint, a brush, and some inexpensive items from TheShelvingStore.com, like our Umbra bulletboard.

A lot of blogs advertise easy remodeling tips but don't show results. Well, we're here to challenge all of those imposters with some genuine, fresh, proprietary shelving material. We're sure because we built it and used our phones to blog about it like teenagers.

See, we used to have this behemoth closet that was really pretty, but taking up too much space.

 
We wanted to turn it into something else because we plan on hiring some new employees soon. So what'd we do? Sold it on craigslist, used the money to buy paint, and added our own unique twist.

 See the Umbra bulletboard? There's also a Umbra Hookaboo in Natural across the doorway. So we put some funky fresh colors, repurposed an old chair, and put some classic garage sale photos on the wall

For our space, we needed to create an office environment. Doing that was simple since a desk is nothing but an overstated shelf! We used a 24"d x 48"w chrome wire shelf to create a workspace and three 14"d x 24"w chrome wire shelves to create a small filing cabinet next to the desk. The next trick, and this is the most important part, is to get the right size shelving liner for your chrome wire desk to make a perfectly smooth, stable workspace that can support up to 300 lbs.

 And there you have it: from closet to office is no time flat! Save some time, effort, and cash by consulting the storage professionals at The Shelving Store. Visit us online or come check out our show room at 1444 E 11 mile Madison Heights, MI 48071.

Standing Work Desk

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Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, in this post you will be presented with the facts that overwhelmingly conclude beyond the shadow of a doubt that this standing desk is guilty... of being incredibly useful. We call to the stand our first witness. In an effort to protect her anonymity, we will call her 'A Federal Government Attorney Working in Detroit.' So, Mrs. A Federal Government Attorney Working in Detroit, are you familiar with this standing desk, and if so, has it been of use?

"This is a waste of time. When you called me in as an expert witness in my field, I didn't realize it would be to testify in a mock trial about how my workspace has been improved by this wonderful 30"d x 48"w x 40"h desktop. Sure, the polyurethane casters allow me to load the desk up with tons of heavy Law Books and still roll it to any convenient location in my building, but I have cases to try. I don't have time for this nonsense."

So you're saying it IS useful! Aha! Made with casters? I believe we have a picture of this. Members of the jury, we would like to submit a photo of this desk caught in the act of being useful, which we will now refer to as Exhibit A.

 

Exhibit A 

Do you deny that you are utilizing this raised tabletop to write legal briefs on the fly while referencing materials that are stored on that floating shelf below?

"Who's denying it? I just told you that the work desk has made my life easier. I'm on my feet all day, I don't have time to settle in at my office desk. Also, you're a terrible prosecutor; Exhibit A should be inadmissible on the grounds that you don't know what you're talking about. That's no floating shelf, it's a cantilever shelf. It only attaches to two posts, leaving open space in the front for easy access and a clean finish."

 Ma'am, please stick to the subject at hand. Exhibit A proves that you're using this tabletop to the fullest extent possible. Clearly you are an accomplice. Just admit it, tell us how you did it. Out with it, confess already!

"Alright! Alright. It was easy. I just went to theshelvingstore.com and ordered a 30"d x 48"w wire shelf, put a note in to get some 44" round posts custom cut to 40", added that cantilever shelf I mentioned along with those casters, and bought some wire shelf liners to create a desktop."

But how do you keep it so stable while it's rolling around?

"That's the easiest part! Hanger rails. They were with me from the start. I couldn't have done it without them."

I think we've heard enough. Judge, care to weigh in?

Yes, I think I've heard enough. I'm getting one!

A Unique Way to Organize Your Car

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There is something that people aren't addressing, a major issue that could be the root cause of all road rage, moving violations, and getting caught at every red light. That issue: car clutter.

Millions of driving Americans are ensured against collision, but crash into clutter whenever they strap on the seat belt. We here at The Shelving Store would like to raise awareness about this mess of a pest and do something about it. After all, you can't go through life without proper use of a cup holder!

Oh, THERE'S the toilet paper! Thought I lost it.

While driving, everything should have its proper place. Reaching across the center console while going 75 down the freeway just to feel the ground for sunglasses that "were right there" is a terrible reason to get into an accident. A clean car is less costly: by cutting the distraction of searching your vehicle while driving, you reduce the likelihood of getting a ticket (and are a much more conscientious driver!).

It is for that exact rationale that want to make shelves mandatory in transit. Gone are the days with a chicken in every pot, now are the times of a shelf in every trunk!

Okay, so we're not selling anyone on the new political dream. But this is a great idea! One of our friends decided to take action against his messy car and created a mobile shelving unit (if only our casters got such good mileage). With the nifty idea of bungee cords to keep things from sliding, this car has been converted into a mobile IT Service Center. You could do the same, but you wouldn't have to be in IT Service. You could be Batman! Or even just make grocery shopping easier to load up and go.

Where bungees didn't work, wire shelf ledges did the job (after all, it's what they're meant for). We're honestly impressed! Maybe a shelf in every car isn't such a bad idea after all.

It's Official- We're Excellent

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 How are you? I hope you're excellent too, because we've received some good news. Well, yes, our Umbra Birdie Hooks are flying off the shelves (that's why they come with mounting hardware), but that's not we're announcing (but thanks for asking)! You might consider picking up a set, they come three to a nest and are the most well behaved pets you'll ever have. Plus, they're magnetic. I'm told that has healing properties; magnetic birds.  Anway, why did we call this press conference? Sorry, I got distracted by these cute birds that live in the wall... oh, yeah, good news!



We're proud to announce our STELLA Service Seal! Get it, like Stellar service? Hey, we didn't write that one, they're actually called that. The seal is given to those online retailers that provide excellent customer service. It's not one of those Facebook awards that you win by popular vote, this is something we've really worked towards.

STELLA, who does such important work that they constantly shout their name in all caps, is an independent evaluating agency that has over 350 metrics they use to judge an online store's customer service. Yes, from the ordering to returns, they experience it first hand and look at the resources retailers supply for customer help, satisfaction, and service. We're very proud of our Excellent rating and promise not to let it go to our head, change our name to "Your Excellency," or convert our warehouse into a castle. We'll stick to providing excellent customer service and excellent products. That way, we can keep everyone happy by flipping the birds.... in our inventory. The Umbra Birdies magnet pets: they're proud of us too.

Creative Storage for Dorms

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Instantly make your dorm more spacious with creative storage from The Shelving Store. We have a great selection of creative storage options for dorm rooms. Shop through our selection of wall book shelves, standing book shelves and shoe storage for closets.

Bookshelves work great in dorm rooms because they are great for storing books, knick knacks, school supplies, CD's, DVD's and so much more. College dorm rooms are always in need of some additional storage, and displaying some of your favorite books other decorative items is easy with a modern bookcase. Shop our great selection here at The Shelving Store.

Shoe Storage is a cinch here at The Shelving Store. With, shoe storage organization products that are fully customizable, you can store as many or as little shoes as you need. Our Stackable 4 tier shoe storage rack is great for any dorm closet or dorm entry way. It's small enough to stow in your car on move in day and looks great and simple.

Our ShoeTrap Boxes come in 3 different sizes for boots and purses, flats and sandals and high heels. The boxes can be stacked in endless ways, allowing you to create a unit to store all your shoes in style. 3 decorative wooden finishes are available for ShoeTrap Boxes to match the decor of your dormroom, closet or other area of your dorm in which your unit will be housed. Get that dorm room organized today!

How to Keep a Clean House

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Stop Clutter at the Source.















With the hustle and bustle of daily life whizzing through your home, it may seem impossible to keep the floor free of debris and the table clear of clutter. If your day off could be better spent relaxing than cleaning, making a few simple adjustments could give you hours of free time each week. The simple plan to keeping clean is a ground-up approach in three areas: the person, process, and product.

The person that does the most damage may be obvious if you live alone, but shared spaces may have a more subtle culprit. That criminal may leave your stuff out or forget to do the dishes, but it’s important to put a name on it: neglect. Now that you recognize your foe, combat it with its weakness! Take proactive steps to ensure neglect has no foothold in your home. Be mindful of the spaces you occupy and how you use them. Focus on what you normally neglect and you will have an excellent game plan for taking on a five minute cleaning spree. Within the week, you’ll notice how these sprees tidy up your home, one project at a time.

Projects are a part of a cleaning process that shapes your home, but they don’t have to take much time. You can create your own process based on your particular daily routine. For many people, that could mean taking your shoes off at the door or filing the mail as soon as you walk in the door. Others may find that their routine takes them past the garbage bins, providing an opportunity to empty the trash regularly. If your means of doing laundry don’t involve hand-scrubbing each fabric, loads can be done passively. Start washing a load before dinner, dry it on a full stomach while relaxing, and fold it snug before bed. By incorporating cleaning into your regular routine, you eliminate the need to spend your days off doing chores.

At this point, we’ve tackled the person and the process, but what about the product? Here, it is not about the cleaning product that you use or the device that sweeps your floors, but each product that you bring into your home. Almost every product is packaged in a jumble of cardboard and plastic, and that mess adds up.

The best way to avoid the excess garbage is to pay attention to how things are packaged in the store. Since a lot of the product’s cost is based in the advertising/packaging materials themselves, buying items with minimal packaging will have the added benefit of saving you money. Bring less clutter into your house and you will have an easier time maintaining your living space.

Save time, effort, and money by incorporating a clean mentality into your daily life. By shedding the burden of weekly chores on your days off, you will reduce your stress levels and find more satisfaction in your home. All it takes is a thoughtful approach with the person, process, and product to change your habits for the better. Become a happier, more productive you today!

Creative Chrome

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With the arrival of the weekend, we've decided to lose the suits and dip into our painters jeans for a special edition of our Shelving blog. That's right, we wear suits sometimes. But not at this time, because of the special addition and all. You may wonder why we're wearing painters jeans?

Because overalls don't look good on anyone.

So we've rolled up our sleeves and started work on a creative chrome projects to prove just how versatile Chrome Wire shelving is! In two hours, three teams of innovative chromies (like cronies, but friends with chrome) put their design skills to the test in order to create some very impressive functional art.

Art really does mimic real life!

Here you can see our resident racer John as he revs up his chrome cruiser to take on this stationary station wagon. John's creation inspired a particularly work-minded individual who looked at his craft and thought:

This chrome kinda looks like our pallet truck

Note the fuel cylinder on back, the scale of the forklift prongs, and the cozy cab compartment. While impressive overall, it lacks that pneumatic lift that would really lift this design to the top. For the most outstanding creation, we turn to our creative guru, our in-house designer, the one and only: Amy!

Go ahead, be jealous

Talk about talent, check out the creative umbrella made out of four chrome corner shelves. Rain might pour on your picnic, but hiding under that spiral of awesome would certainly keep you dry. Not dry, really, but cool. Super cool. She even outfitted it with some accessories such as a napkin holder and cup holders.

So next time you think about creating a shelving unit, or buying any material, take a look at it in a new light. You might find yourself with an awesome truck, patio set, or anything else your imagination can dream up!