DIY Entry Organization

  
I was visiting a friend the other day and was impressed with her innovative entry. She turned a blank wall into a place where her family can hang their coats, hats, bags, etc. She framed pegboard, painted the frames dark blue, and added hooks at various levels to accommodate her children's varying heights.

She placed three identical pegboard organizers in the space, making it more decor rather than just utilitarian, as a large pegboard would have been. If I remember correctly, the pegboards were about two feet wide and 4-5 feet high. To finish it off, she added containers under the pegboards to hold shoes.

A great way to turn unused space into a very practical entry solution!

More on DIY entry organization:
DIY Storage - Entry or  Side Table
DIY - Turn a Hutch or TV Cabinet into an Entry Organizer
Entry Closet Door Organizer



 

DIY Gift Wrap Organizer

In my ongoing search for clever organizing ideas, I found this ingenious way of keeping gift wrap under control: using wire closet shelving!

This is how The Family Handyman describes it:

"Propping up rolls of gift wrap in the corner of a hall closet often means wrinkled, torn or lost rolls. Here's a way to keep the rolls neatly organized and easy to reach.

Make a wrapping paper "corral" by screwing a small section of wire closet shelving vertically to the side of a closet wall. Just slide the rolls in!"

Don't you love it?

More on DIY storage:
DIY Cord  Storage:
DIY Closet Storage from Flea Market Finds
Turn Your  Clutter into Storage - DIY Ideas

Turn Bathroom Cutter into a Welcome Basket for Guests

  
It's amazing how quickly we can accumulate little samples and other small items in our bathrooms! When we moved in April, I saw just how many such items I had and would probably never use.

Why not get them out of my bathroom and provide a little spa basket for our guests? What a nice way to welcome visiting friends!

Not having guests at the moment? Stash the basket under the sink or in the guest room to declutter your guest bath counter for everyday use.

More on decluttering the bathroom:
Organizing Products I Use - Under-the-Sink Drawers
Safe, Space-Saving Storage for Hair Appliances
Decluttering in 5: 20 Decluttering Tasks You Can Do in 5 Minutes or Less

 

Organizing Products I Use - Organizing Sandal and Flip Flop Storage

As I went through the summer and end-of-summer sales, I began accumulating enough sandals and flip flops to create a mess in my closet! I've posted a solution using dry cleaner hangers, but I didn't want to sacrifice that much closet space. What to do?

I chose an over-the-door shoe organizer. I could get a pair of shoes in each of the twenty-four pockets. I haven't filled all the slots by a long shot, so I have plenty of room to grow without creating a mess in my closet! Not that I necessarily want to fill up all twenty-four pockets with summer shoes! 
 

Such a simple and inexpensive solution to shoe clutter!

More on Organizing Products I Use:
Organizing Products I Use - Shoe Organizers (but not for shoes)
Organizing Products I Use - Repurposed Furniture
Organizing Products I Use - Two-Shelf Dish Organizers

 

Destressing Christmas Already? ... Yep!

   
If you really want to destress your holidays, start now! Twelve Tips to Destressing Christmas has a plethora of ideas to help make your celebrations meaningful and joy-filled.

Things like being intentional about your celebrations, creating memories, planning meals, smart and green gift-giving, decluttering, and much more!

Give yourself the gift of a destressed Christmas!

More on Christmas:
Labeling Storage with Digital Pictures
The Very Best Apps and Websites for Holiday Gift List Organization
Recycling My Christmas Tins into Pantry Storage

Organizing with Velcro

 
Here's another great organizing idea I found when searching the internet. Kuzak's Closet suggested using adhesive Velcro dots to keep organizing baskets from moving around your drawers. Great, simple, irritation-busting idea!

More organizing tips:
Organizing Your Kitchen  Cabinets - Fake Pull-Out Drawers
Organizing Sheets and Pillowcases
DIY Under-the-Bed Storage

Organizing Your Kitchen Cabinets - Fake Pull-Out Drawers

  
I've been searching around the internet for great organizing ideas, and found this one: fake pull-out drawers. Using plastic containers as you would drawers allows you to pull out the container and find what you need easily. Good-bye standing on your head to find those things in the back.  Nothing gets lost or forgotten. Brilliant idea!!

More on kitchen storage:
Organizing Products I Use - Spice Organizers and Turntables
Redbook: Clever Storage for Plastic Wrap, Foil, and Reclosable Bags
Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen

Keeping Sheets and Pillowcases Together

  

"Never lose a pillowcase again! Here's how: If the clean set isn't going directly onto a bed, fold and stash it in one of the pillowcases to keep everything together". (Redbook)

I've shared this idea before, but the picture is so much nicer on Redbook's post! I've been storing my sheets like this for a few years now. I used to tie ribbons around sets of sheets a la Martha Stewart, but I love this idea so much more! You never have to wonder if the sheets match, especially if you have a bunch of white sheets, for example!

More on closets:
Ruthless Closet Purging - Getting Organized for a Move ... Or Not
Three Steps to Organizing Your Closet (ebook)
Three  Steps to Organizing Your Closet (Kindle)

 

Hoarders Dos and Don'ts Guide

  
If you're a hoarder or have a hoarding friend or family member, you might be interested in the Hoarders Dos and Don'ts Guide put out by Address Our Mess, hoarding experts. 

Hoarding is a complicated issue and must be handled carefully and thoughtfully. This guide will give you some valuable insights on how to most effectively address hoarding.


More on hoarding:
Hoarding - There Are no Easy Answers
Are You Turning into a Hoarder? Find Out.
Dehorder Game - Clean Up a Hoarder Home

 

DIY Portable Storage

"Add casters to a simple wood box for easy-to-move storage for almost any purpose. Place the box beneath an entryway console and you have an accessible, but tucked-away, place for shoes." Another clever idea from Better Homes and Gardens.

Some other ideas: use it as a movable toy bin or a gardening supply container.





More DIY Storage:
DIY Storage - Turn Old Benches into a Shelving Unit
DIY - Turn a Hutch or TV Cabinet into an Entry Organizer
Turn Your Clutter into Storage - DIY Ideas

DIY Storage - Turn Old Benches into a Storage Unit

   
"Create a scene-stealing shelving system by stacking a series of antique benches and anchoring them to the wall. The weathered finish of these benches testifies to their colorful past lives and adds a rustic, eclectic character to the space while providing a place to corral books and display accessories." (From Better Homes and Gardens.)





More DIY storage: 
DIY Storage - Managing Paper with a Dish Drainer
DIY - Turn A Hutch or TV Cabinet into an Entry Organizer 
DIY Storage - Entry or Side Table
 

How Clutter Affects Your Health

  
Had a lovely weekend doing some babysitting for our granddaughter and helping our daughter rethink her office. Got some new herb plants at our local farmer's market - so excited! I love having my own herbs!

Changing the subject drastically, we're going to look at how clutter affects your health. Robin Westen, medical director for ThirdAge has written the following article on that topic:

"There’s a good chance if you’re living with a lot of clutter, you realize somewhere in your psyche that it’s disrupting your life. It might be tough to find essential items, or the mess might be taking up valuable living space. But did you know your excessive clutter could also be hurting your health? Here are some problems you could be letting yourself in for:

Loneliness Countless studies show close friendships and socialization keep us healthy and youthful. If your home is so disorganized you’re ashamed to invite people over, you could end up living in unhealthy isolation.

Exhaustion Do you feel like you just don’t have the energy to clear out the clutter? Well, the reason you’re constantly feeling fatigued could be the result of the stagnant energy that accumulates around the objects causing you to feel lethargic. Just looking at it can bring on an overwhelming sense of weariness.

Depression When your available space is filled, it’s impossible to find the psychic room to bring anything new and exciting into your life. You may feel stuck with the same old problems that have brought you down for a long time. Clearing your clutter gives you a good starting point to deal with your problems and move forward.

 
Negative Reactions The truth is, people treat you the way you treat yourself. So if you value yourself and look after yourself, people will treat you well. If you allow the junk to mount up around you, you may attract people who mistreat you in some way because subconsciously you will feel that’s what you deserve.

Weight Gain Studies show people who have lots of clutter in their homes have a greater likelihood of being overweight. Psychologists suspect this is because body fat and clutter are forms of self-protection. By building layers of fat or clutter around yourself, subconsciously you may believe you’re protecting yourself from life’s disappointments or tragedies.

Distraction When you live surrounded by stuff, how can you have clarity about what you’re doing in life? There’s a good chance once you clear it, making life decisions will become easier and more focused.

Stress The stress experienced from excessive clutter can seriously impact health by helping to cause reduced immunity, sleeplessness, heart disease, gum disease, memory loss, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cancer, and more.

 
Poor Nutrition If you’re stocking your pantry with canned and processed goods, or expired products, it impacts your health. In addition, if your kitchen is disorganized and cluttered, you’ll be less motivated to cook and more likely to stop for fast food or eat out. In fact, there might be little or no space left on your counter for cutting fresh fruits and vegetables."


More on how clutter affects your life:
Costs of a Disorganized Office, Solution for Productivity
Health Risks of Clutter
University of California TV Series Looks at Cluter Epidemic in Middle-Class American Homes

Organizing Office To Dos for the Visual Person

  
Most time management experts say that you should clear your desk every night.

However, if you are a visual person, out of sight is usually out of mind, isn't it? So clearing your desk at the end of the day may be a disaster UNLESS you make a list of your top priorities for the next day.

Another option is to clear your desk of everything other than your top priorities for the next day. Arrange those top priorities in order of importance on your desk so you're ready to go the next morning. You won't even need to think! It's all ready for you.

What a nice way to start the day!

More on organizing for the visual person: 
Organizing for the Visual Person - Calendars
Office Organizing for the Visual Person – Magazine File Boxes
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office

Space Savers for Small Spaces

  
I had a wonderful birthday yesterday - thanks for all the birthday wishes!

I uncovered some great space saving ideas for those with small spaces, courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens. But you don't need to have small spaces to enjoy these clever suggestions!

"Secret Stash: Place furniture in the corners of rooms at an angle and use the space behind to stash baskets of extra linens, toys, crafts supplies, or whatever else you need to store.

Save Space: When space is at a premium, invest in a large, one-stop-shop bookcase that will serve multiple storage needs. Place it in a central location in your apartment unit and store books and dishes on the upper shelves; place bins, baskets, or drawers on the lower shelves to house linens, flatware, office supplies, and any extra things that don't have a place to live.

Faux Built-In: Some vintage apartment buildings come with gorgeous built-ins, ideal for storing modern necessities. If your apartment is lacking, fake the look by flanking a doorway with identical bookcases that reach almost to the ceiling and install moldings around the tops of the shelves. As a style bonus, paint the bookcase before installation, or line the backs with pretty paper.

Apartment Assets: Turn awkward apartment features in your favor. Tap odd corners or narrow closets for storage or a cozy seating area for one. In this living room, two narrow nooks provide storage for office and crafts supplies, and curtains can be drawn to conceal the spaces."

More on space saving ideas:
DIY Under-the-Bed Storage
Entry Closet Door Organizer
Organize Toys Using a Wire Garden Planter

Organizing Your Dorm Room

  

If you or someone you know is heading off to a college dorm this fall, space is probably on your mind.

Lately I’ve been hearing about spacious and luxurious dorm rooms - how nice if you're lucky enough to have one! But this is the exception rather than the rule. Dorm rooms are notoriously small and cramped. So it is essential that you use your space extremely well in order to function at your peak in college.

If you have the chance after you have gotten your room assignment, measure your room, noting where built-ins, plugs, sinks, windows, doors (and which way they open) and other non-movable items are located. There's usually not much room for additional items, but your measurements allow you to purchase additional storage, for example, with accuracy.

One of the keys in organizing a dorm room is using the vertical space. Many schools have a loft option for the beds, which allows you to utilize the space below the bed efficiently. Adding additional storage options in this area or purchasing tall storage units will maximize your vertical space. Adhesive hooks also add storage for hats, keys, and other such items without using premium storage real estate.

Utilize hanging storage units in your closet, on the back of the door, etc. Don't forget those spaces at the bottom of your closet and under your bed (if you don't choose the loft option) for extra storage containers, drawers or cubbies. All these cute storage options multiply your storage capacity while using normally non-usable space.

Be realistic about the space you have! Only bring to school that which can fit in your dorm room. A sure-fire way to guarantee a mess is not having a home for everything. If you will be traveling back home before winter sets in, only bring summer and fall clothing with a few transitional items. Swap out seasonal items each time you go home.

There's nothing that gets out of hand quicker than paper! Have a place for files and paperwork, whether it's in a desk file drawer, hanging files in a crate, or a rolling file unit. This eliminates lost papers and wasted time looking for them. Don't forget to use your wall space for bulletin boards and message boards - another great way to coral paper, important messages and reminders.

Make use of small containers with lids for school supplies, food, and toiletries. Crates turned on their sides make great stackable shelves. Rolling drawer units are space-conscious, as well.

Designate a few minutes each day or each week to declutter, and your room will be a cozy haven! Declutter while you're on the phone, watching a movie, or talking with your roommate, and you'll be doubling your time.

Speaking of doubling your time, to get the most out of college check out Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student.


More on college:
Three Steps to to Time Management for the College Student
A Unique Way of Storing Folded Clothes
Organizing the College Application Process

Getting Organized for School - Ideas for Creating a Central Hub

  
With school starting in less than a month for some, it's time to start thinking of how to create an atmosphere of success for your student and your family as a whole. If things are organized and running smoothly, your child will be more likely to do well. If chaos reigns, it will be very difficult for your child to focus and excel.

One idea is to create a family hub - a central location for several important things:

- You need a location where you keep papers to be signed for school, library books, invitations, and other important information. The point is to have one location into which you deposit vital information so you know where to look when you need it. It can be a drawer, a decorative box, a shelf - whatever works for you. And it needs to be in a central location. When my kids were home, I used a basket in my kitchen.

- If you want to include backpacks, briefcases, and keys in your hub, you could put up pegs or hooks near the door you normally enter. Or use a coat rack or a coat closet to store these vital necessities.

- You may also want to create a section in your hub for each person in your family to house their important stuff.

- And a family calendar would be a vital part of this hub, too.

I searched around the internet and found several different ideas for creating a family hub or parts thereof. Let these be a springboard for creating your own family hub!

Aren't these clever ideas? What does your hub look like? We'd love to see pics!

More or getting organized for school:
5 Tips for Organized Back-to-School Shopping
Are You Overscheduling Your Kids or Yourself?
Creating Routines and Systems

Dehoarder Game - Clean Up a Hoarder Home

   
A game where you pretend to be a hoarder cleaning up all your stuff? Yes, its true! Michelle Starr gives the following review:

"Dehoarder, made by SmilingCat for last year's Ludum Dare competition (the theme was "Minimalism"), is yet another experience again; and there's something about it that we just cannot stop playing.

You (the first-person protagonist) are a hoarder, and you're tasked with clearing up all of the junk in your living space. The game takes place in a single room; when you start, you have three stats: Score, Will and Money.

Like Katamari Damacy, initially, you can only start with small objects, such as empty burger containers. This is because you have no Will — this, however, can be obtained by throwing things away. You'll have to work your way from fast food wrappers to newspapers to the larger items cluttering your room.

At the end of each day, you'll be given a cash reward for cleaning, and sometimes, you'll be able to sell some of your junk. This cash can be used in two ways. A cleaning service will randomly pop by, offering you their services in exchange for your money. We advise you to take them up on it whenever possible — because the other way your cash is used is to your detriment.

At the end of each day, you will compulsively give in to the hoarder addiction and buy more junk. This happens automatically; when it does, your score will go down, too. Since the aim of the game is to get to 10,000 points as fast as possible, you want to have as little money as possible to blow.

The game was made in two days (the main condition for entering Ludum Dare), and it does show — it's not the most graphically sophisticated work we've seen. But there's something compelling about it. The first time we cleared off an entire couch was glorious, only to have it littered with empty soft drink bottles and newspapers again the next morning after a binge.

Dehoarder is playable for free on Kongregate, so give it a whirl and let us know what you think."

(Screenshot by Michelle Starr/CNET Australia)

More on hoarding:
Hoarders Plead Guilty to Child Cruelty
Are You Turning into a Hoarder? Find Out.
Hoarding -  There Are No Easy Answers

Costs of a Disorganized Office, Solutions for Productivity

A great article by Frank Rowan:

"When you organize your work environment, you optimize your surroundings for productivity and increase your ability to work effectively.

Conversely, a disorganized office costs more to run. Supplies, tools and equipment go missing because nothing is organized or put away properly. Those things have to be replaced to complete work tasks, consequently twice the money has been spent in the end. Plus, you spend valuable time searching for missing items, files or paperwork. In fact, some studies have revealed that the average senior business leader spends nearly four weeks each year navigating through messy or cluttered desks, looking for lost information. Does that sound like productive time to you?

If I haven’t convinced you yet, read these benefits of taking the time to create an organized and well-structured office.   

• Better communication: An organized office environment encourages better internal communication. With a central area for staff communication, it is easier to share sales news, track targets, and plan and monitor projects.
  
• A manageable budget: Organized spaces will allow you to quickly see what you have, what you need, and when you might need more. This supports the creation and sustaining of budgets, especially for supplies and equipment.
 
• Increased work ethic and morale: When you and your staff take care of your surroundings, it makes the workplace a more pleasant place. Taking care shows that you value your work and the people who work for you.
 
• Better time management: Simply put, you spend less time looking for things and more time actually working. An organized office will complement and support your time management strategies.

Begin by clearing your desk of everything but your computer, your day planner, your current files, your inbox and your telephone. Depending on the size of your desk, you may wish to put your current files or inbox on top of a filing cabinet within arm’s reach to maximize desk space. Anything you don’t need on a regular basis should be stored out of arm’s reach. Choose one central system for managing your notes, tasks, to-do lists, brainstorming and scheduling. If you have a day planner, use it. If you prefer electronic systems, use those. Having too many binders, notepads and calendars gets confusing. Make a habit of tidying your desk at the beginning and end of each day.

Keep loose papers pinned to your to-do list, or have clear and organized folders. Use drawer organizers to keep your stationery drawer clean and easily accessible. Organize your loose paper, inbox and action items in a file sorter or stack of paper trays. Use categories like to-do, to review, waiting response, and on-hold and to file. Put your phone on the left if you’re right handed, and on the right if you’re left handed, so you have the appropriate hand free to take notes when you’re on a call. Keep a notepad or sticky notes by the phone to record messages and conversation notes. Personal items can be distracting when they’re in your primary line of vision, and encourage daydreaming. Photos and memorabilia have a place in your office, but relocate any items that are in direct sight.

Assess common areas. For example, put doors on shelving so cluttered spaces are not visible. Label boxes, containers, and shelves so everyone knows what goes where. Create a consistent filing system. Provide enough shelving and filing cabinets to store files in a systemized fashion. Ensure your system keeps files out of the way and out of sight when not in use, but maintains easy accessibility. Return or sell unused stock and overflow office supplies, like stationery. Locate other unused items that you can potentially sell or donate to create more space.

Consider renting out unused portions of your office to independent consultants or small businesses. Ensure each staff member has access to the organizational materials they need to keep their offices neat. Provide stacking trays or file sorters, and suggest systems that may help them. Remember that you can’t control their work environment, but you can provide the support they need to stay organized. Minimize the distance between your office and the areas you frequently use (like the printer or photocopier). Locate your office so you have a clear line of sight between you and the most productive area of your business.

Once you make some initial improvements and set up systems to manage your data and organize your supplies, the hard part is over. A clean and organized office is easy to sustain once it is in place. Remember to be patient with yourself. Depending on the state of your work environment, this may be a project that takes a little while."

More on office productivity:
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
Three Steps to Time Management for the Office
Increasing Your Effectiveness at Work

DIY Storage - Managing Paper with a Dish Drainer

An easy way to create a vertical file from a dish drainer, compliments of Better Homes and Gardens:

"Now that dishwashers are often a kitchen staple, wire drainers are a bit out of favor. Give one new life as an office storage solution to store file folders. This old item adds character, charm, and utility, making it the perfect display and organization piece for your home office."



More on DIY storage:
DIY Storage - Entry or Side Table
DIY - Turn a TV Cabinet or Hutch into an Entry Organizer 
DIY Under-the-Bed Storage

 

DIY Storage - Entry or Side Table

  

"Repurpose a vintage cart as a side table for a living room or entryway. A cart like this can be used as a drink station when entertaining or when outfitted with baskets on the lower shelf, it can be used as a handy entryway organizer and hold seasonal gear, shoes, and more out-the-door essentials." Thank you Better Homes and Gardens!




Here's my adaptation: I couldn't find a place for my beloved wicker tea cart we brought back from Kenya, and I also needed something to go in our entry way. A wonderful marriage!

The bottom shelf holds games, which didn't have a place to live either. My vintage guest book sits on the top shelf.

Since most people here take off their shoes (due to snow, etc.), I wanted a place for them to sit. I had bought a lacquered pink wrought iron chair which was perfect for that spot!

We painted an antique mirror lacquer red and completed the scene with an lacquered orange wrought iron hat rack. A fun, colorful welcome to our guests!

More on DIY organizing:
Turn Your Clutter into Storage - DIY Ideas
DIY Under-the-Bed Storage
DIY - Turn a Hutch or TV Cabinet into an Entry Organizer