Succulents

These waxy, geometric beauties are certainly trendy, but not only because of their interesting shapes and hues ranging from mint green to deep violet. Their thick leaves store water, so they typically only require weekly watering (wait until the soil is dry before dousing them again). Succulents come in lots of varieties (like slender cacti, spiky sedum, smooth Echeveri, or flowering Kalanchoe), but typically enjoy sunlight and dry air.

Pothos

This leafy vine would have been voted “most popular” in high school. Since its quite hardy (and quite pretty), people choose it often. It can deal with low light, and won’t be bothered if you let the soil dry out.

Ponytail Palm

This Mexico native gets its name from its shape — its skinny leaves sprout from a thick stalk, where it stores water.

Begonias

These crowd-pleasing spring and summer blooms need their soil to dry out before they get another drink, and require even less watering in the winter. “Plus they come in many different foliage colors and patterns,” says Hayden.

You’ll find the full list and 5 more charming plants that can handle some neglect at Country Living.

The post 4 Houseplants You Can Forget to Water appeared first on Clever Homemaking.

Insisting on Closed Doors

Storage doesn’t always have to be hidden to be useful. Open shelves or doorless cabinets can help to ease access or allow you to develop a collection of well-loved items that are well-seen, too.

Discouraging Accessibility

If your family members can’t reach what they need, they’ll ask for help getting it — and be unable to put it back, too.  To solve that problem, include storage that’s accessible for all: books on low shelves or racks, clothes at arm’s length, and cabinets stocked with daily necessities.

Not Rotating Items with Use or Season

There’s often a quick storage solution to overstuffed closets: Take out everything that’s not currently in season. Those items needn’t be transported to far-off rooms; under beds or on above-head-height shelves make good out-of-season storage spots.

Cluttering Up Your Drawers

There’s a reason a junk drawer is called a junk drawer: It’s usually the repository of all those things we don’t want, or don’t know how, to deal with.  And if you’re not careful, all your drawers can quickly become clutter magnets. Instead, give yourself (and your junk drawers) a break, with organized spaces that rely on smaller trays, dividers, or other containers or bins.

Not Subdividing Storage

Even narrow closets or cabinets can quickly become a storage nightmare, with a hodgepodge of items with no order.  Luckily, bins, containers, trays, baskets, and the all-important labels can quickly restore storage calm. Subdivide by color or type of item, and label shelves, too.

Overstuffing Shelves

There’s no storage rule that says every square inch of a shelf must be crammed full of stuff. In fact, that’s a quick way to lose track of items and to create unwanted visual clutter. Instead, try alternating vertical and horizontal elements. If one section of a shelf has several books or containers, give the other side some visual breathing space with a photo or other collectible.

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