5 Tips For Organizing A Closet

1. PURGE Often.  There is no way around it, getting rid of things you do not wear, need, or like is the biggest step to an organized space.  Especially with clothing, taking the time to sort through makes a huge difference.

2.  Built in's make a huge difference.  Our current closet was completely custom from the previous owners.  It was such an easy process moving our things in.  In our old house my husband built the custom shelving in the boys room.  It was so inexpensive, but made them sharing a room (and closet) so much easier. ( you can see how HERE)

{ A look at the closet plans and finished product}

3.  Sometimes "hacks" aren't worth it.  There are SO many fancy Pinterest photos and blog posts with the latest way to hack an organized life.  Some are incredible, but others just create more chaos in a space and add clutter.  That is why in our closets you won't normally see those things.

4.  When organizing your spouses things, don't try to overstep.  Just think if your husband were to walk into your closet space and start telling you how to change it or what's wrong with it.  I don't think it would go over too well!  Although your solutions may be better, letting your spouse control his space is important.

5.  Functional doesn't always mean pretty.  I don't know about you, but I am over picture perfect rooms being shown in magazines and blogs.  IT ISN'T REAL LIFE.   Please remember this when organizing a space.  Find ways that make your life easier.  Even if they aren't the most pretty, or photo worthy, THEY WORK.  That is the point to organizing something.  FUNCTION.

Whether you have a small closet or large, there is ALWAY a way to get it organized.  Below are both videos.  The organization of my small closet in our old home, and the new closet in our current home.

Kid Friendly Hall Closet Organization

I think I have FINALLY found a solution to our entry way closet organizational dilemma.  This closet made me cry inside each time it was opened, it was so messy, and trying to find matching shoes was harder than finding any Waldo.  Something had to be done.  I decided to re-use a system from our old home and use the over the door shoe organizer for the kids most worn shoes.  While not the most appealing, it gets the job done, and even my 2 year old can put his shoes away correctly.  

We also moved an Ikea Kallax Shelving Unit into the closet.  With 4 spaces for bins, we use one for each child, and the extra is for any shoes my husband or I may have downstairs.  I really like the constraint of only having the space within your bin, once it's full, it's time to clean it up.  I decided to go with the Ikea Lekman Boxes in white.  I liked the clean color, but also the durability of the plastic bins over a fabric counterpart.

To see more of how I am using this closet, and how I am keeping it organized, please watch the video below!

Pantry Organization That's Kid Friendly

Keeping my pantry organized, functional and kid friends is something I have struggled with in the past.  I have tried different methods of organization in the space before (see my previous organization here) and it was not working.

When re-organizing the space, I really kept the kids in mind.  Placing items they commonly reach for toward the bottom shelves, things I wanted to keep away from them toward the top.  I also kept in mind that I needed to save space on the floor of the pantry for any bulk items I may purchase.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

To see a full look into my pantry, this video will walk you through the entire space and show how I store my Pantry items.

Lunch Packing Essentials

I don't know about you, but for me the most stressful part of back to school, is getting back into the routine of making packed lunches each day.  Keeping my supplies as organized and as handy as possible is a big help.  

The video below shows how I use a kitchen cabinet to organize all of my lunch making supplies.  

I also thought I would take the time to share the exact materials I use when packing lunches.  Throughout the year I hope to share some of our packed lunches through either FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, or PINTEREST, so be sure to follow along there.

1 / 2 /  3 / 4 / 5 (similar) / 6 / 7 (currently unavailable, I would check Target) / 8

Above you can see the items I use to pack lunches 90% of the time.  I use ziplock sandwich bags occasionally as well.  Below is a full video showing the products.

What are your favorite things to use for packing lunches?  I think mine would be the Lands End lunch bags which I did a full Review of HERE.

**Affiliate Links have been used in this post**

10 Ways To Get Organized For The Start Of The School Year!

Getting the kids ready to head back to school after a long, fun, and hopefully relaxing summer can be tough.  Being organized and planning ahead can really help get you back into the routine of early mornings, lunch packing, and homework.

Here are 10 Ways Moms Can Get Organized For The Start Of The School Year!

10.  Establish Routine Early: Take a week or two before the new school year to set a new routine.  Whether that be earlier bedtimes, alarms being set in the mornings, getting up and dressed instead lounging around the house.  Whatever your schedule will be on the first day of school, practice NOW!

9.  Set Up Stations: I will be going more into these stations in the coming week, but having locations in your home to accomplish certain tasks will keep things in order.  We have a lunch packing cabinet, a shelf for homework supplies (located where we do homework), and an area dedicated for the kids school coats and backpacks.  

8.  Layout Your Fall Schedule:  Making an outline of how each week will look with school drop offs/ pick ups, weekly meetings, activities, and obligations that will happen each week will help you see how your routine will flow.  This will also help you see if you are overbooking your schedule and need to pare it down a bit.

7.  Create A Paperwork Command Center:  By simply using a three ringed binder and some dividers I made a book where all the forms from school and activities can be saved.  Instead of being piled up on a desk never to be looked at again, it is neatly organized by child so it can be saved and referred to as needed.  

6.  Stock Up On Food:  Having a full pantry makes my heart happy... odd maybe, but it works.  Not having to run to the store each day at 5 o'clock to get a missing ingredient for dinner is a life saver.  Being stocked up also means you have plenty of options for the kids lunch boxes as well.

5.  Meal Plan Easy Meals:  For me, quick and easy is the way to go the first few weeks of school.  It really is a hectic time, so stick to the basics.  Meal planning is a great way to save time, money, and the headache that comes around 5PM each day.  

4.  Keep It Simple The First Month:  Along with keeping meals simple, also keep your schedule simple.  Stick to what is necessary.  We never plan on traveling the first month of school.  We also try to keep our weekends clear so we can have some down time to regroup each week and spend some time together.  

3.  De-Clutter High Traffic Areas:  Going into the first week of school I like to feel like I am as organized as I can be.  I work on decluttering areas of our home that we use most frequently.  Our entryway closet, the kids clothing, our pantry.  Our house runs more smoothly if everything is in it's place. 

2.  Address Any Issues With The School BEFORE The First Day:  Have y'all been in a school on the morning of the first day.... it is more insane than Toys R Us on Black Friday.  My advice is, if you need to discuss things with the nurse, secretary, teacher, anyone, schedule a time to do it before hand.  

1.  Make It Fun:  Once you are prepared and feeling like super mom, enjoy the time, grab the camera and remember that summer will come again....

Below is my video version of my 10 tips to prepare for back to school!

Storing Your Child's Schoolwork {Organization}

With the end of the school year upon us, us moms have a lot going on.  One thing being controlling the mounds of projects and papers that are making there way home.  

I decided when Matthew was in preschool that saving everything was not an option for this slightly OCD mama.  So I came up with a system to save the most important things from each year.  And toss the rest (trust me, they won't need therapy because their macaroni art is long gone 20 years from now!)

In the video below I walk you through How I organize it all, keeping it meat and clutter free!

 

Organizing Baking Supplies

Today I am sharing how I organize all of my baking supplies.  I love using the OXO Containers for my sugar, flour, and other things that cause messes.

Sprinkles have always gotten jumbled and out of control on my shelves, so I contained them with small bins from the Dollar Tree.

I think just a good clean out of cabinets like this can make a big difference!

Below is the complete video showing how I organize my baking cabinet.  Enjoy!

Clutter Free Desk Organization

I never realized until I finished this project, how much more productive I am with a real, organized dedicated work space.  #lifechanging  Our desk space is located in our bedroom, well because quite frankly that is the only place for it.  I also have to keep the desktop as clutter free as possible incase my husband gets the urge to work from home.  I am so happy with how it turned out.

The actual desk is from ikea, shown here, and is still available.  Most accessories are from Target (lamp, wire organizers) Home Goods (bulletin board, paper sorter) and Michaels (decorative boxes).

Below is an entire walk through of the space, including the organization inside the desk drawers/ cabinet.  Enjoy!

Small Closet Organization

It feels so refreshing going in to spring with a new looking closet.  This has been on my to-do list for a few years now.  I have done the kids closets but neglected to give mine the attention that it needed.

Adding the Ikea Alex Drawer Unit has made a gigantic difference.  I open my closet and smile, I just love it.

I have always used these Sterilite Shoe Bins to house shoes not in use.  I love how easy they are to stack.

Also making the switch to the Huggable Hangers  has also created more space in my hanging section.  I am buying them in sections, and not all at one time.  Although the cost is the same, spacing it out makes it seem like less!

Inside my Alex Drawers there are many bins and containers that hold everything in place.  I like using these, that way when makeup gets messy, you can clean the bins and not be left with a stained piece of furniture.  

Container Store Small/Medium Bins
Container Store Tray




Below is a complete look into my closet:

My biggest tips for keeping it organized:

1.  Go through your clothing/shoes/makeup often.  Donate or toss things that you know you will no longer use.
2.  If you are dealing with a small space, try only putting things in you are using at the current time.  Rotating clothing/shoes by season is a great space saver.
3.  Stack Vertically.  Now if you are shorter this may not work, I am 5.9 so I can reach pretty high.  Using stackable bins, and wire racks really works for me.
4.  Reevaluate if something isn't working.  The way I was storing my makeup WAS NOT WORKING.  Changing it up has made the biggest difference.





**This Post May Contain Affiliate Links**

Bookshelf Organization and Some Favorite Books

I'll be the first to admit I am not a big book reader.  Maybe that will change someday, maybe not.  I am ok with it.  We literally have 1 shelf on 1 bookcase that contains real books, you know, ones that are not for the kids.  1 shelf.  Kids books, we probably have a few hundred #it'sbecomingaproblem.  

On said shelf my husband has about 5 books, either about the Yankees or Jerry Rice.  As for me.  My favorite fictional stories come from Nicholas Sparks.  I own in real book form every book he has written.  

Other than that my book collection is filled with books about cleaning, organizing, housewife stuff, motherhood things.  These books I do actually enjoy reading, and I read the same over and over.  

Below I am going to share some of my favorites with you.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 {Newer Editions Available}

5 {TOP PICK!} / 6 /  7 / 8

To see what else is on our bookshelf, be sure to watch the video below!

What are your favorite types of books to read?  Share below!

Busy Box Organization

These Fun Preschool Learning Boxes are a must in our home.  I have 5 storage containers I use, and I switch out the contents of the box periodically.  There are a few ways to go about assembling the boxes.  

1.  Specific types of toys/activities in each box.

2.  Mix it up.  Label the boxes by day and in each box include a variety of toys.

To see what is currently in our boxes watch the video below.  If you want to see each time we change them out, let me know, and I will update and film more when we switch.  Below I am also going to link to a number of products/items that work well in busy boxes.

Boggle Junior Game 

Matching Game
Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards
Magnetic Dress-Up Set
  Vehicles in a Box Jigsaw Puzzles
  Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Pets
50 Counting Bears with 5 Cups
Learning Resources Easy Grip Tweezers 2 Pack
  Unifix Cubes (100 count)
  Picture Words Flash Cards
Match It! Puzzle Games Spelling
Educational Insights Shapes Bean Bags

When picking busy box items I try to keep a few things in mind.

1.  I want the toys to be independent.
2.  I want the toys to not make a mess.
3.  I want the toys to not have batteries or make a lot of noise.
4.  I want the kids to like them!
5.  I usually try to mix in some homemade things as well, which I didn't do this time.  I will sometimes add egg cartons with craft pom poms to use for sorting, or beads with pipe cleaners for stringing.


Also remember I am making these for my 4 and 6 year old.  If you have smaller children keep in mind that some cubes, beads, and other learning materials can be small and a choking hazard.