Happy New Year!

Yes, we never got around to sending a newsletter in January and its now mid-February, however we can still wish you "all the best" for the remaining months still to come in 2009.

This month's newsletter features articles and photos on a variety of topics that are as interesting and varied as the people reading them. From organizing suggestions to health tips to famous quotes and the latest in home improvement news -- you're sure to find something that appeals to you. . . . . Happy reading!

• Clutter Cures
  
• Kitchen Mirrors to Eat Healthier
• Home Security & Wall Safes
• Green Solutions
• Tax Credits on Home Improvements
• House Size Trends

Clutter Cures

CURING SOME OF THOSE WINTER BLAHS: Want to make some changes to your home but aren't anxious to spend thousands of dollars on a full-blown renovation? ... to read more click here.

FEEL GREAT - CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER: Keeping your home clean and free of clutter is a key component to healthy living. ... to read more click here.

Clutter Quiz:

Do you dread opening one of your closets for fear of what will fall out?

If someone stops by to visit unexpectedly, are you embarassed to let them in because of all the clutter? Do you find yourself wishing you could be more organized?

Well then, maybe you should try our online "Clutter Quiz" and see just how bad (or good) you are when it comes to being organized. It's a quick and fun way to learn more about yourself and your storage habits! Take the Clutter Quiz today!

"We adore chaos because we love to produce order." -- M.C. Escher

Kitchen Mirrors to Eat Healthier

A mirror by the refrigerator or near your table may be all it takes to eat healthier.

A recent study shows that when offered full-fat, reduced-fat, or fat-free spreads, those who dined in front of mirrors ate 22 to 32 percent less of the full-fat versions than those without mirrors.

If you make food choices in front of a mirror, you may think twice about what you eat. By confronting your image, you become aware of your internal standards, goals, and values, such as health and thinness.

A mirror near your TV, desk, or anywhere you tend to nibble may also help you eat less.

Home Security & Wall Safes

Tips for purchasing home security systems and recommendation to provide additional security with home wall safes. ... read more about home security and hiding valuables.

Green Solutions

Recycled bottles are reborn into countertops and decorative surfaces ... read more about a company that turned trash into treasure.

Tax Credit on Home Improvements

The Federal Government has expanded the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit and now offers a new geothermal systems tax credits for residences.

This tax credit is promotes energy savings, cost savings and tax savings.

Click here for more about this in the January 2009 article "Buried Treasure" by Nina Patel from Remodeling Magazine.

House Size Trends

The average US house has more than doubled in size since 1950, and now measures 2,434 square feet. But increasing numbers of homeowners are finding that these houses aren’t what they're cracked up to be. Space goes wasted or unused, and utility, maintenance, and tax costs pile up. In some cases, folks simply find themselves feeling a bit lost in colossal homes that look impressive from the outside but have all the warmth of an airplane hangar inside.

And so something new — and small — is happening. People are beginning to realize that when quality is high, less can do more. In a survey last year by the National Association of Home Builders, 63% of American homeowners said they’d prefer to live in a smaller house with “high-quality products and amenities,” such as marble floors and top-of-the-line appliances, than in a larger house with fewer of those features.

Some local governments, reflecting popular weariness with super-sized homes, have even imposed limits on the square footage of new houses. DeKalb County in Georgia, for example, allows residents who oppose larger houses known derisively as “McMansions” to petition to change zoning rules in their neighborhoods. And Marin County in California requires a formal design review before constructing any home bigger than 4,000 square feet or taller than 30 feet.

So much more than Closets!

For information about how Closet City can help your remodeling project, de-cluttering your house or customizing while downsizing give us a call at 1-800-342-0070!

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