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My pantry serves as our laundry room, storage room, cleaning closet, china hutch and tool shed. It can get a little crazy up in here. There’s lots going on.
We have two huge bookshelves (twice the width you see here) for holding everything, as well as the big filing cabinet, which holds all of our bigger tools.
A while back we installed two pegboard panels above the tool cabinet. I usually say that everything should be put away for a clean, uncluttered look. But sometimes, especially in a small space, things can get buried quickly. Making this pegboard has made my life so much more efficient.
Since the pantry door is usually open I wanted the pegboard wall to be as clean and simple-looking as possible. I thought about painting the pegboard a cool color at first, but I didn’t want it to stick out more than it already does, so I left the white. But I did spray paint all the organizational hardware the same rose gold color.
It’s subtle, but I like the little bit of shine.
I also use about a dozen clear tupperware bins. I bought them at Home Depot for a dollar each.
I have them labeled with these cute chalkboard labels from Martha Stewart’s label line for Avery.
Each bin holds something small and specific, like upholstery staples or tape or wall anchors.
Another thing that helps keep this room running smoothly is my little whiteboard. I jot down things on this board that we’re running out. They’re usually things I wouldn’t remember while making a shopping list (like laundry detergent or light bulbs).
Other things that make the room special to me- the persian rug I bought in Belgium for just a few euros (I think it was only three!) and the pair of porcelain animal hooks I got in Delaware at the Amish flea market. We usually hang aprons from these and the girls adore them.
The pantry is sort of like the command center of our home. It’s been surprisingly good to us these past two years (not that I won’t be excited for a little more space when we move!). I think this room was a great learning experience for me and reminded me how well a space can function when it is well-organized.
So, I’d love to hear about your best organizing tip. What do you do to keep your challenge spaces tidy and running smoothly? Share your tip in the comments section for a chance to win a whopping $500 in gift cards! $250 to Target AND $250 to the Container Store!
Contest ends June 24. Rules can be read in full here. Good luck!
We live in a 1 bedroom apartment in the city and are in dire need of better organization! Hoping this would help!
I have a hard time keeping most things organized but I do have my daughter's toys organized in labeled buckets that all stack neatly on a shelf in their room. They don't have to ask where things go because they know which bucket each toy belongs in.
I have a goal to be better organized — these tips are awesome! I try to do a spring cleaning and a fall cleaning for my challenge spots.
I have a hard time staying organized but I try to do a spring and fall cleaning for my trouble/challenge spots.
I use a hanging shoe organizer inside the door of our entryway closet. In winter it holds all the gloves and hats and in summer it holds flip flops and shin guards and sunscreen. It's easy access for whatever is used each day. Year round the top pockets hold flashlights, candles and other things that we might need. An easy way to keep the closet organized.
To keep my closet organized, I make use of a hanging shoe rack and
then utilize the floor space for bins to store various other items.
To keep my closet organized, I make use of a hanging shoe rack and
then utilize the floor space for bins to store various other items.
My best tip is to make a decision. Sometimes I want things to be perfectly organized – so I end up with a mess as I do nothing while searching for the elusive perfect. I am most organized when I just make a decision about where to put something.
Bins are great for storage, but they have to be clear in our house otherwise, even with labels, they become black holes that stuff disappears into.
I pick up baskets, boxes, and other containers at estate sales for under a dollar. They look great, have history and texture, and are budget friendly ways to add storage throughout the house!
Hi!!! My tip is somewhat minor but it's a tip….I use ice cube trays to hold earrings and other jewelry. The trays fit perfectly in a small drawer in my dresser and are easy to slide back and forth!
OHIO!
Only handle it once! ;-)
When I open the mail I immediately throw out all unnecessary paper (extra envelopes in bills, etc) and throw it out. Keep the paperwork from taking over my life!
OHIO!
Only handle it once! ;-)
When I open the mail I immediately throw out all unnecessary paper (extra envelopes in bills, etc) and throw it out. Keep the paperwork from taking over my life!
I know this is dumb..but my tip is to have lots and lots of shelves! That is one thing that I'm lacking in a bunch of my closets right now. We are working on it, but in the meantime…..frustration!
i feel like storage boxes are a great way to rangle all of your random items to make your place look a lot less cluttered.
jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com
I toss out as much as I can, and then rely on clear, labelled storage buckets!
Best organizing tip: purge. Get rid of the junk then you don't have to organize it. Or, if you're like me and you can't just throw some things out, you can 1. donate it/gift it/otherwise pass it on or 2. use it up and not replace it. Do you really need 17 rolls of tape and 8 different scents of lotion (no matter how organized they are)? Nope, you don't.
Best organizing tip: purge. Get rid of the junk then you don't have to organize it. Or, if you're like me and you can't just throw some things out, you can 1. donate it/gift it/otherwise pass it on or 2. use it up and not replace it. Do you really need 17 rolls of tape and 8 different scents of lotion (no matter how organized they are)? Nope, you don't.
I'm getting some of those chalkboard labels!
My best organizing tip is to make sure everything has a place. Every item you have in your home should have a place. The place can be where you use it or where you store it. When you use something, there should be a hole to return it to when your are finished. You use it and then put it back in its spot. This sounds simple but at my house when things don't have a spot or place, they tend to gather and form clutter.
Here are two examples in my house: 1) I keep the roll of trash bags in the bottom of the trash can. That way when the bag is full and I take it out, I don't have to go elsewhere or look for a replacement. 2) In the bathroom I have a hanging shoe holder on the back of the door. Each place is for a specific toiletry (labeled). This serves two purposes. It shows me where I need to put the item when I'm done with it and when the space is empty, that we are out of the item and it needs to be added to my shopping list. It is a very visual system that works for me.
I AM A CLOTHING HOARDER. I can't give anything away, not even high school homecoming dresses in a size 0 that will never probably never fit again, but in my New Year's Resolution to try to never appear on a sympathy-garnering AETV show, I developed the following organizational tip that I think everyone can benefit from:
On January 1st, hang all your clothes on the hangers backwards on the hanger bar (like, hook the bar from the back instead of the front). As you wear things, hang them back up the normal way. On January 1st next year, give anything that is still hanging backwards to charity.
Thanks!
I like to have one junk drawer that we put miscellaneous items in and that keeps a lot of the house clean!
littleassemblyrequired at gmail dot com
What a great space! My best organizing tip from my storage-less home is to utilize all the little bits of space. I have a 7" deep dvd shelf turned wall-mounted storage in our slim hallway. Great for things like extra toilet tissue, hair accessories, lotions, etc.
I often (bi-monthly?) go through the toys and get rid of ones that aren't being played with and rotate others so that my kids don't get burned out on what they have. Also, I do some sort of cleaning/tidying everyday! Then I don't get overwhelmed!
I try to do a little of something everyday. I clean my bathroom while giving my son a bath!
lpcinteriors@gmail.com
I use oodles of containers so that everything has a home. From plastic shoeboxes, to plastic drawers to decorative baskets, the is a place for all! Great giveaway!
Just a little tip. I can't bear to throw away pretty packaging so I use them for organizing. For instance, I used a burned down candle holder to hold pens and a laudree box to hold my desk knick-knacks. Very adorable and practically free!
The only way I can clean is to shut off the voice that says, "I hate this!" If I just do the job and refuse to think about it, things with get done. I don't think about all the toys, pillow, shoes, or whatever else my family has left on the floor. I don't let myself get angry or feel anything about the clutter. If it is in front of me, I move it.
I'm moving from a 3 bed room (with roommates) to a studio on Thursday… I'm so nervous about organization! But, I know I'll make it work. I just saw a trick to use a verticle baking rack storage system on it's end (horizontally) for pots and pans–my pots and pans are always inside each other and a disaster to pull out of the cabinet, so I'm excited to put that to use!
I label EVERYTHING! Labels make sure that everything has a spot and that it goes back where it belongs!
I TRY to do a little cleaning everyday to keep up on things. I could probably use some help on closets and such, but baskets and bins are my go to for making clutter disappear.
I use cute boxes and labels for everything!
A little cleaning each day and then a deeper clean every other weekend works well for us.
agadiee (at) aol.com
I keep a running grocery list on my computer, in a permanent file that lists the aisles at my favorite store. (Ex: Aisle 5, condiments). It helps me zip through the store, a must with kids in tow!
I seem obsessed with silver wire racks. All my kitchen goods ar piled on them (I may have to try your bin +label setup) and at work I have the same silver wire racks with cardboard magazine holders to keep my various computer bits separate.
Living in an older bungalow, my best organizing tool is to get rid of items I don't really need and to only buy things I love. It really helps to keep away the clutter.
Trying to do a little cleaning and organizing everyday is what works for me!
for keeping the clutter away, i use various sized plastic boxes and label them for what contents belong in there.
to keep the amount of stuff in my small space manageable, i rated everything i owned into: love, like, use and don't use. if i didn't love it and didn't use it, i got rid of it. so now i don't own excessive numbers of towels, hang on to crafts i'll never get to. it's made cleaning so much more pleasant and easier!
also helpful for moving!
People don't usually come to me for cleaning tips but I do stay very organized. I get a lot of decorating magazines that I like to keep out but I don't want them to get out of control. So in January every year I sit down and flip through them to the dogeared pages and if it's something worth keeping I rip it out and add it to my inspiration binder. After I've gone through the magazines of that year I recycle them all and start the yearly collection at square one.
Everything goes in a labeled bin. Its the easiest solution and everyone can read what should go where.
I love using labels. I just need a way to label our clothes drawers in a classy way for my husband! haha.
Fingers crossed!!
I have an exceptionally messy toddler and after buying a storage bookshelf with cubbies and little baskets, we have made it a nightly game to see who can clean up the most toys & get them put away. It's fun bonding & saves me the tedious work of scooping ALL the toy kitchen foods and stuffed animals!
I like to use short over door organizers inside of my cabinets. The cabinets are quite deep so there is "unused" space which the door shelves incorporate. I put the lids to my pots and pans in the organizer; and extra spices in another organizer.
It also keeps smaller items from being lost.
I like to use short over door organizers inside of my cabinets. The cabinets are quite deep so there is "unused" space which the door shelves incorporate. I put the lids to my pots and pans in the organizer; and extra spices in another organizer.
It also keeps smaller items from being lost.
If I have not used something in a year, it gets donated or sold. This goes for clothes, cookware, linens, magazines, candles and anything else that takes up space!
I just discovered a huge bin of old cards, letters, drawings and newspaper clippings from my nieces and nephews. My current project is to scan these into digital files for each of them (I have 19 nieces & nephews!) and throw away the originals (as much as it pains me to do so!). We can only save so much!
My tip is: "a little bit is better than nothing and soon little bits add up to everything". So if I notice that the fridge needs a clean out, I will wipe down two shelves each time my tea is in the microwave. After 5 cups of tea, the fridge is cleaned out. Or I will straighten/sort one drawer while putting clothes away. After a few loads of laundry are "put-aways" the dressers are organized. Otherwise I will procrastinate about things. kikoindallas at hotmail dot com
Bins, bins, bins! Similar to you, that's the only way I can keep my house organized!
For organizing, I can't have enough baskets and bins. My new rule is that everything has to be labeled! (Husband-training is a work in progress!)
Hello, well my tip or thing that I do to help keep us organized is this well two tips I guess!
First, we do a lot of arts and crafts so I have tons of supplies and I had tried bins with labels and baskets bags all sorts of stuff nothing worked for us I still found things everywhere but now we use our downstairs closet door! I have a over the door shoe rack holder the kind with the clear plastic pockets! It was very cheap to purchase and each slot contains one type of craft supply!
Second, is in the summer we are going and doing a lot of things so I have made several bags to put in the closet each with a tag for what it is for! I have one bag that I keep year round for bad weather, with all nececties in it for if we had to run to the bathroom in case of a tornado! It has clothes for the kids and dry socks and a leash for the dog and a bag of food for the animals and a gallon back of snacks for the kiddos, and flahlights and bottled water and a small first aid kit! Then I have one for the lake which has all sorts of water toys, towels, floaties and sunscreen then one for picnics has everything but the food, plates, napkins forks etc. then there is our church bag which has activity books for my 5 year old to do during church and some books to read. Then I have our car bag which has books and a couple stuffed animals and one toy for each kiddos for days we do errands they have stuff to do in the car.
I hope that this can help someone else that needs a little peace in their home! Good luck to everyone!
I commit to doing about 30 minutes worth of "picking up" and organizing/styling at home after work every day. We may be in a rental, but I want it to feel like home (and clutter makes me itchy).
I had to create a chore schedule for the two adults living in the house! Laundry on Wed. and Sat., bathroom clean on Thursdays. I'm terrible about sticking to a routine, so walking in the door, looking at a printed schedule of chores and knocking them out right after work is the only way we keep things clean around here.