Space is very precious. In Japan, since their land is very small, they have become very good in using space to the maximum, building vertically since they are limited horizontally. 

We just actually had our general cleaning today. We have thrown out everything we haven’t used for more than 2 years and will not use for the next 2 more years. Well, except for the craft materials that I have bought. It’s a small space that we have so it is very precious for us too. Almost everything is actually modular. Since my girls are growing up, later, they will have to have a place to put everything that has to do with vanity like makeup and everything else. For sure, modular vanity space will be called for later.

As we age, our bodies deteriorate, especially if we have been lax when we were much younger to be strong and agile. At 43, I’m not yet considered old to feel those back pains, knee joints hurting when walking up the ladder, and my finger joints hurting even when I don’t crack them!

I’ve been sportive when I was younger. Cycling, swimming, volleyball, hiking, bowling! And yet, here I am with all these aching joints! It is difficult in the morning when I get up because my lower back hurts!

If at my age this is how my body feels, how much more those older??? If I remain to be exerciseless now, what will I be in the years to come? How can I lift myself up with ease?

Good thing technology is listening, with a power lift chair that is available! Hopefully, everyone can get hold of it, even myself. If I can’t be strong as Wonder Woman, I want one! Anyone buying me one?

In the Philippines, we have a saying, “Kung maiksi ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.” Translation: “If the blanket is short, learn to bend.”

As human beings, with human nature, it is but natural to be dissatisfied, discontent, and wanting. Being in those common attitudes easily get us down, adding stress and wrinkles as we age, faster than those who have contentment in life and adaptable spirit in going about the daily grind.

So what if you lost your bed? The floor is big enough where your bed used to stand! The bums on the streets find the roads as everlasting beds!

In this degrading times, it is not unusual that our standard of living will drop down. Going down means you’ve had your opportunity to be up! And when you’re down, there’s nowhere to go but up!

It’s nice to be resourceful but it’s nicer to be happy with what you were able to have and not grudge on what you don’t have. Sure it’s nice to have a mattress, but if you don’t have it or have lost it, be content and adapt to what is available at the moment. That’s your perfect bed of the moment. With a smile on your face, life is easier to live.

A house can differ from the rest because of its interior design. Whether it’s designed so or for lack of choices, arrangement still does wonders how to manage your stuff.

If you’re like me with a limited space and budget, I do my own design, ask my abled hubby to saw and hammer and that’s it! I use the walls and ceiling. You may not believe it but he’s turned a wooden bed into cabinets, which are more needed than the bed.

If you can’t do that, then ask someone to do it for you. You can have contemporary furniture mixed and matched on screen before actually buying the stuff! Just enter your space dimension and you can mouse around what fits. You can even change the colors digitally so you get an idea what you’re going to have in the end.

The beauty of computers… Makes life easier.

Different people have different types when it comes to furniture. Given the option, people would like to choose the kind they like. It sort of  defines the owner’s personality…or it just plainly show what the owner likes.

Sentimental people would normally go for antiques. Nature people would go for a fallen tree. Fast-paced people would normally go for modern furniture.

What do you go for?

Did it ever happen to you, that when you go inside a shop, you ask for prices, you’re quite hesitant but you stayed because of the furniture?

Several times it happened to me. I may be in a saving mode but when hungry and tired after a day’s work out of the house, I may go inside an eatery and sit for awhile. When I feel comfortable and have some means, I’ll order….just to be able to stay awhile longer.

If you have a business where you have a lobby or a waiting area, having a comfy office furniture will do your business good. Don’t you think?

Two decades ago, the standard house for sale in a subdivision has 3 bedrooms big enough to fit 2 single beds and you still have some space in between. Now, that has changed to 2 bedrooms which can fit 1 bed. More and more 1-bedroom row houses are being built to accommodate families with low income to give the opportunity of owning a house. It’s not surprising that in most of the designs, you can reach the door from your bed!

It’s still better, though, to own a house instead of renting, but that’s a different topic. When you’re one of those wanting more space because you have more stuff your floor space can accommodate, then you might gain from this post.

Assuming you have your stuff like furniture, arrange them in a modular way.  Arrange big items close to the wall. That way you have the walking space in the middle. Reaching to the left or right will be easier than having your walking space by the wall and everything else on the other side.

Keep stuff you don’t need but won’t throw away under the bed or in the farthest cabinet.

Use the wall. Instead of picture frames, install shelves or wall cabinets (then put your picture frames on the cabinet door if you so insist on displaying them). Hang your TV too. There are several tv stands that are designed to attach to the wall.

Use the ceiling. I’ve seen a small house where the clothes cabinet is hinged to the ceiling. The hinge is on the top front part, the ceiling serves as the cover. There is a hook at the bottom part that hooks to the ceiling when you bring the bottom up. I thought it was really cool. You just make sure you hinge it to the horizontal beam with big screws that can handle the weight of the filled cabinet.

When you’re yet buying:

Think modular. Modular furniture, for example, can follow the form of the space provided. You can rearrange them to fit.

Think stackable. Anything stackable saves space like monoblock chairs.

Think functional. If it’s mere display, think again.

Think multipurpose. If something can do more than one purpose, great! The more it can do, the better. I like my kitchen scissors. It has a can opener, bottle opener, grip, fish scaler, peeler, knife, flat screwdriver and sometimes I use it as a pot holder.

Not until just a few minutes ago did I learn that there is such a thing as a sleep number bed. Ordinary beds with coils and springs do not have the ability to be adjusted. It is not so with sleep number beds where you can choose from different comfort layers, sleep surface, air chamber, air inflator and enjoy warranty up to 25 years!

With the digital air ultra inflator which has 4 function ergonomic controls, LED digital readout, 50 comfort settings, scientific measurement, automatic bed fill, and pneumatic pump, you can get the most out of your bed, in addition to what the best offers which has memory foam and natural talalay latex for the layers, antibacterial bamboo sleep surface, and valcanized latex air chamber.

What’s your choice? I think I like the sleep number 9500. It will be the best for my back, neck and good night’s sleep.

One of the finest woodworkers/carpenters I know is my mother’s brother. He learned the trade from my grandfather. When he died, my uncle got every tool my grandfather left. His son, my cousin, is also doing great having the skill he learned from his father.

They made their own house. Neighbors and even people who know them but live towns and even provinces away, go to their shop to have their furniture done, whether it be cabinets, sofa, cupboard, dining table, etc.

I’ve seen my uncle work. Not only was it quality work but designs are intricate. My mom had our sofa made at home when I was less than 10, I think. That lasted for almost 2 decades after so much jumping by us 3 siblings.

Carpentry has to do with the construction while woodworking has to do with the design. Put them together and you get quality furniture.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… CY: wait… I: wait… L: wait… YCat: wait… I: wait… Top: wait… I: wait… L: wait… C: wait…

Japan, due to its small area, is known to make all their quarters (living, working, sleeping, eating) very functional. They are also artistic that what they create has beauty also. Not many live in big spaces. They who do can afford to  buy mere displays to beautify their places.

If you have a small place, you need to incorporate functionality to anything you actually buy. Take, for example, a tv stand to accommodate LCDs…