Problem: Article: Most newer homes are designed to include some kind of coat closet beneath the main staircase. If your home is lacking this feature, it may be just what you need to reduce clutter and maximize your storage potential. These types of closets don’t even have to be very big—with just a few square feet, you’ll have more than enough room to stow a card table, backup toiletries or some unwieldy cleaning supplies.  Use extra closet space to supplement your wardrobe or keep accessories like shoes, hats, belts and ties organized. If you like to cook, closets near the kitchen can function as storerooms for dry ingredients and utensils. Make the most of a deep recess or the area under a flight of floating stairs by moving in a desk and a few other compact pieces for a basic home office setup. This will give you an out-of-the-way place to pay bills, read over work-related documents or do homework. Don’t forget to include a lamp, desktop organizer and a charging station for your laptop or phone.  Lay out a futon and some pillows to create a cozy reading nook.  Hang a memo board, calendar or set of filing trays on the walls of an alcove. You can usually extend a given room by three to four feet by opening up the area below a staircase. That’s enough territory to set up a drafting table or put in a mini bar. By using every available inch of the room, you’ll be able to free up useful storage space elsewhere.  Transform a few extra feet of floor space into a pet area, complete with beds, toys and food and water dishes. A vanity mirror and narrow countertop can serve as a quaint powder room. Even if you can’t cram in a whole lot, you can still reinvent a small space to enhance the look of your home. A single shelf and some under-glow lights are enough to elegantly highlight that prized painting you bought at auction that’s been sitting around in a closet collecting dust. You and your guests will be able to stop and appreciate a moment of beauty each time you change levels.  The gallery feel makes a sophisticated touch for contemporary homes, especially those that are leased as rentals. Display your cherished awards, trophies and medals in a glass-front display case. For people living in studio apartments or townhouses where square footage comes at a premium, designating the empty spot under the stairs as the new coffee bar or laundry facility is just good sense. It could also make a great place for a second refrigerator, exercise bike or even the TV, if your staircase is situated in the center of the living room.  If you work from home, you could set up your printer, copier and scanner. Make sure you have access to the necessary outlets before moving cumbersome appliances into place.
Summary: Increase your closet space. Set up a modest study. Add onto the room. Create a tasteful art display. Make room for your appliances.

Problem: Article: Though you may want to have a baby despite your husband’s wishes, you should never skip birth control so you accidentally get pregnant. This type of behavior can lead to a lot of problems in your relationship, and further convince your husband not to have a baby. Lying about your birth control or manipulating your husband can lead to trust issues. The risk of getting pregnant is not worth potentially serious problems in your marriage. If you want to have a baby, you need to discuss it with your husband. However, try not to bring it up every second of every day. Nagging your husband about the baby is going to accomplish nothing but pushing him farther away from the idea. If your husband is resistant, leave it alone for a bit, then return to it later. Pressuring your husband for a baby won’t make anyone happy. Obsessing about wanting a baby when your husband doesn’t may lead to resentment or feelings of pressure that may lead him to never wanting a baby. Instead, focus on the family you have at the moment.  Having a good, strong family now may convince your husband that he wants to expand it in the future. If you already have one kid, enjoy the child you have. Let your husband enjoy that child. He may eventually decide he wants to add to the family. If you don’t have children yet, having a strong marriage and being happy may lead him to wanting to expand the family.
Summary: Avoid deliberately skipping birth control. Refrain from talking about babies all the time. Enjoy the family you have at the moment.

Problem: Article: Although germs can live on most any surface, they are more likely to collect in certain places than others. In most schools the restrooms are cleaned at least once per day, but there are some areas that are frequently overlooked. It is estimated that 80% of all infections are caused by coming into contact with a contaminated surface.  Toilet seats aren't actually as bad as we think they are, and they are usually cleaned on a regular basis.  Door handles collect a lot of germs. The inside latch of a toilet stall has been touched by many students after using the toilet and wiping themselves. Many students also skip washing their hands, and then transfer their germs to the exit door as they leave. You can use a paper towel to open a door so that your hands don't get dirty. If you are a boy, there is no need to be shy about peeing in a urinal next to other boys.  This is a perfectly normal thing to do, avoids unnecessary contact with germs inside the toilet stalls, and helps to keep the stalls cleaner for everyone else. Cafeteria trays aren't always cleaned between meals. Dishes are always washed after use, but the trays are sometimes overlooked.  If you carry hand sanitizer, use it to wipe your tray before you get in line. Don't allow your tray to come into contact with any shared surfaces after it's been cleaned. The average desk is used by five or six students in a single day. If any of those kids were sick, they probably left some germs behind.  Keyboards and mice are also likely to collect germs. Hand sanitizing wipes are the quickest way to clean shared surfaces. Some students put their mouths directly on the faucet, passing along their colds and flu to the next person in line. Try to avoid contact with the spout, and run the water for a few seconds before drinking.  There may be as many as 2.7 million bacteria per square inch living on a public drinking fountain spigot.  If you want to be even safer, carry your own water bottle instead.  Many schools now have stations where you can refill your water bottle without pressing a button. Art supplies are often shared, and seldom cleaned. Multiple students may be using the same art supplies in different class periods. Apart from rinsing paint out of brushes, cleaning art supplies is not usually a big priority for students or teachers. Although proper etiquette dictates wiping off exercise equipment after using it, not everyone does this. Shared equipment like balls, bats, and helmets can also be a hotbed for germs. Outdoor facilities like park benches and playground equipment are usually not cleaned on a regular basis. Since these items are shared by a great number of students over the course of a day, they tend to collect a lot of germs.  Playground equipment has been shown to harbor trace amounts of fecal matter along with viruses and bacteria.  Run the water for a few seconds before drinking from the water fountain. Even better, carry your own water bottle instead.
Summary:
Be careful in the bathroom. Sanitize cafeteria trays before using them. Give your desk a quick wipe before sitting down. Use care when using a drinking fountain. Clean more than your brushes. Avoid using shared sports equipment that hasn't been washed. Try not to touch playground equipment or picnic tables with your bare hands.