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In a different life, I would have been a professional organizer. I adore the process. I physically feel better when things are cleaned and set just right. Also, I collect storage bins and baskets. That alone is telling. :) But I love it. Even though I joke that I am and I’m certain my husband thinks I am, I’m not actually obsessive about it. Things get messy and out of place (every single day) and I continue to reset daily it to ease the functioning of our family. Since I’m fairly practiced and because it’s January, the annual observance of ‘get yourself together’, I’m here with a few tips to help you along.
Every item should have a place to live.
This is the biggest step. If it is in your house, it should have a designated place to be. (If it doesn’t have a place, get rid of it!) It is time consuming to figure out and might require a couple of rounds to get it just right but it is so worth it. It’s more challenging in the beginning, when you are new to a house or space but new furniture, children and even a new season might require adjustments and reorganizing. As our children grow and outgrow things and to keep up with the constant influx of junk, we are regularly on the lookout for ways to make our space function better. After Christmas (okay, a little before), we went through the toy room again to adjust the layout. I sewed new vinyl bags, one for each child, to enclose all those little things that now live with us. We organize in such a way that they have access to their things so they are able to do things for themselves. I love these corded baskets with handles.
There are those pieces that don’t fit in your house right now because of space or season or relevance. If they are essential to keep, just store them. Make good choices about what you are packing away and work to pack similar things together, pack them close and tight and label well.
Make things work for you
When you do find a place for everything to live, make sure it makes life better/easier for you. Put a basket near the couch to hold the remotes, facial tissues, pen and paper, anything else you use when you sit on the couch. Hang key hooks by the door leading to the car or set up a bowl to create a place where those keys belong. Store cleaning products together, get all the cooking utensils in one good-looking crock, put guest towels in or near the guest bathroom and put all those miscellaneous cords in one place because then when you are looking for that one cord for that one thing, you’ll know where it is. If you must keep old issues of magazines, drop them in a lidded box and a messy stack now looks sharp. I am from the camp where I don’t really want to see much of what I own. :) I like it to be put away; out of sight, out of mind. I am especially keen on these kitchen canisters.
If you have little ones, try putting their cups and dishes in a drawer or on a shelf they can reach. It will enable them to do things for themselves. Employ a low set of drawers, even plastic ones can work and look good, so they can be involved in getting dressed or putting away clothes. Set up a spot where children can shed outwear. We actually shifted our ‘staging area’ because the spot we wanted it to happen wasn’t working. We made the coat hooks low enough the children can hang their own coats and there is a place for gloves and hats and all those shoes. With children, the idea is not perfection but more containment.
Go through things often.
Take time to go through your belongings and get rid of outgrown, worn, broken, unused items. Spring and fall are good times to reevaluate, especially if you live in areas where the seasonal weather requires a different wardrobe. But any old time works in my book. Children are constantly growing so weeding out the nonessential will make great use of your space. Tear meaningful pages from magazines and toss the rest. Donate unread books. Reevaluate all those t-shirts from high school (MJ). We are constantly battling paper, including mail and school sheets. Toss junk mail and excess paper immediately; don’t let it pile up. The idea I like to keep in mind is streamline. Less stuff is less work.
Set a day during the week to recheck.
Like most good things, being organized requires maintenance. If you set a time to do it, it’s harder to forget. Put a reminder in your phone, write it in big letters on the calendar and circle it in red. It takes time and diligence. And if you need me, call me.
Like I said, I just kind of collect storage containers. I love all these woven baskets, storage for dishware and stemware and don’t get my started on trunks. I had the hardest time choosing just a few. However, if you are on the look out, here are some ideal pieces from Wayfair.
Utensil Crock | Drawer Storage
Glass Canisters | Utility Basket
Have fun!
Yeah. So. We’re the same person.
“Reevaluate all those t-shirts from high school (MJ).” So funny. And “With children, the idea is not perfection but more containment.” – totally what I need to hear. I’ve been arranging and rearranging, trying to create space for a new baby’s things….containment indeed! Love this post. More please!
Let’s continue to be friends. :)