Making Room For Clutter

Technology has impacted how we work, increasing our productivity, efficiency and ability to manage multiple objectives. When it comes to our homes, technology makes it easy to control our thermostat, monitor the home alarm system, and use our iPhone as a TV remote control.  Amazing, eh?

But with all the tech-stuff comes the challenge of keeping the the cords and the clutter they create under some measure of control.  You know... a place for everything and everything in its place. So here are five fresh ideas to help you do just that. 

---

• First Idea: 
Create a charging station within a drawer.  It takes a bit of doing but when you are remodeling a kitchen or adding a home office, this one is an easy one.  And while this works if you only have one iPhone and one iPad, there probably isn't enough electrical outlets to accommodate a family of phones and pads.  So think about making that outlet a plug strip.  That way you are less likely to run out of outlets. 

---

• Next Idea:
This one is amazing.  Imagine that your entire countertop in the kitchen or the bath has the ability to charge your smartphone.  Well, imagine no more because there are vendors making solid surface counter materials that can keep our cell phones charged up with out a cord.  Amazing, eh?
Imagine how good this would be if the top to your cocktail or end table had the same feature.  

---

• Third Idea:
We first saw the prototype of this about three years ago and knew that it would be just a matter of time before a standard outlet and USB charging port would be combined and in the marketplace.    No more fumbling around for a charging brick.. just plug that pad or phone using a standard USB cable.  Cost will vary but you can generally pick one of these up for about twenty bucks. Installation is easy.  Just remember to kill the power to that old outlet before replacing it with this new one other wise it might be you that gets the charge.   And certainly, a licensed electrician would be a wise investment, especially if you have several installed all thru the house.  

---

• Fourth Idea:
This is pretty low tech idea when it comes to other solutions but it works.  Take a series of those large spring-loaded paper-binder clips and mount them at the back or to the side of a desk or countertop.  Weave all those cords thru the "arms" and keep the cords dangling out of sight until you need them.  

---

• Fifth Idea:
Sometimes part of the clutter issues are really about not having sufficient places to plug our stuff into.  From Task Lighting comes this angled pug strip that can be easy customized for what ever you want.  Say that in a two foot length, you might want two 120v outlets and three USB outlets.  No problem.  And how about where to place it?  The track is angled and designed to fit under a countertop as in this picture or beneath the bottom of a wall mounted cabinet. 

---