New Use for Old Thing

“Rather than splurge on a pricey charging station for phones and iPods, make one out of a console or table by drilling small holes for the cords in the back of a top drawer.” – Lori Marrero, creator of The Clutter Diet. At first, I read this tip in Family Circle and thought “Good Lord. Who’s going to do that??” But, a Classic or Organic Structure could do this in 2 seconds … now if only my console table HAD a drawer, so much for streamlined, modern furniture.

What’s brilliant about this solution is that it creates a home for something in the entrance way where you likely naturally ‘unload’ your daily gadgets versus your kitchen counters – which seems to be where a lot of electronic gadgets end up living in many homes. I mention this as odd only that kitchen counters really ought to be for food prep.

Seriously, this idea would’ve solved my dilemma of where to put my charging station IF I didn’t have a front hall console table sans drawer. I can obviously charge gadgets anywhere (and my husband does – usually in some annoying spot like the dining room table), but it’d be nice to have it where we dump things upon entering my home. As a Classic, I like to create hidden homes for things if possible. While an Organic Structure might DO this project, they might not be as into the hidden phone idea (out of sight out of mind). Ditto for Organics and Smarts. So, Classics & Funs would like this the best but I do think Organic and Smart Structures would adapt to this solution well.

Anyway, here’s the point, it should take two seconds (okay, okay, 15 minutes if you include assembling the tools and cleaning up a bit of dust) to do this project if you own a drill. If you can see the cords going down to the socket under your console and it bugs you (Classics, Funs and to a certain extent many Smart and Organic Structures), Get one of those wall things (PVC raceways) that hides them and paint it the color of the wall or if it’s just one or two wires then paint them the color of the walls and skip the hassle of going to the store.

Originally published March 25, 2010.