My Closet Organized

Even thought I really wanted to be done organizing, I steamed ahead and finished up organizing month with the boys closets.  No pics to share because I had to be fast to get it done before their nap time {and they really are not that pretty}  I reinstated Jean's tip for keeping a bin in the closet as a place to keep clothes that they have grown out of.  I have used that before, but have not been keeping up on it!

I wanted to hit up my closet but do my seasonal switch in my closet, but the weather here is not quite ready to let go of my boots and sweaters even though I really want to just wear flip flops.  And my closet is not big enough to hold two seasons.  So these are pictures from my summer to winter change out.

I actually live in tank tops and then just layer a sweater over them in the winter.  I am a big fan of like with like then organized by color, light to dark, left to right.  Seriously I am a little OCD!!  And as you have all seen throughout the month, I like to have everything visible.  I love my hanging cubbies because I can keep all of my wifebeaters tanks and fold sweaters right at eye level.

My dresser has all of my undergarments, workout gear, and lounge clothes.  I also like to have my jewelry in plain site.  I used skinny shampoo bottles I picked up at the dollar store to stack my bracelets on a tray.  My rings go into a candle holder and my earrings hang on the side of a bowl just like Kim from Keller-Creative.  I also picked up a couple of hanging hooks to hold all of my necklaces.

I have always loved keeping my shoes in clear boxes.  I find my at Big Lots for $.99!  They are bulky, but they keep the shoes nice and clean.  In the summer I keep the lids off a few of the and my flip flops get tossed in those.  For the winter I like to keep my boots out and up... but they have gotten taller over the years, so now they have to lay down.  I like to take old thick magazines and stuff them in the boot to keep the leg nice and tall.  

Here are a couple of rules to keeping my closet neat and uncluttered.  

1.  When I switch out my seasons I try one everything.  If it doesn't fit I either throw it out, donate, or sell it.  

2.  If I didn't wear it last season I also do the same as above.  I have a rule if I haven't worn it in a year then I probably won't wear it this year.

3.  I love having all like hangers, it just makes it look more uniform

4.  Make it pretty and personal.  Just like Carmel's tip at the very beginning of the month, I try {as much as I can in a rental} to make it pretty.  I have a picture of me and the hubs from our welcome party before our wedding... just a reminder of a great time and it always makes me smile!

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This organizing tip brought to you by A Room with A View.

Tiffany, thank you for inviting me to contribute to this series.

Hi everyone! I am Lisa from A Room with A View.

My organizing tip takes you into what is considered to be the heart of the home - the kitchen.

My plastic food storage containers used to be kept on a cabinet shelf piled any which way possible. Result - chaos. After renovating our kitchen 7 years ago I moved them to a large pullout drawer below the counter top . This is what the drawer used to look like for a few years.

The drawer made the containers more accessible and I was hoping the system would be more organized as I wanted to get everyone to help at mealtimes with putting food away or after washing up. The little kids in the family who visit and like to potter around cabinets have had free access to these to play with (and I sometimes give them a wooden spoon or 2 as well). My kids used to play with these, too.

Like the picture above, this is how the items would look on any given day. No real system; somewhat haphazard. Inevitably, something would fall over the sides and I would lose the occasional lid or it would get stuck or be forgotten about - in the same way that socks go missing except these did not get very far. Also, there was not always enough room for all the containers to fit.

Over two years ago I realized I needed a better system and decided to separate the bases of the containers from their lids and stack them according to shape and size.

I bought this Elfa drawer from The Container Store because I needed a large box-like item and I liked the depth of this. Just one. It was a good size and the key was that it was open.

I reorganized the drawer with an easy system. This is what I have had in place for a couple of years. The containers without the lids.

The lids are stacked vertically in the oversized basket by height and more or less also by color. This makes it easy to see and to locate lids.

This is how this drawer and system has stayed and most importantly worked, for all members of this household and during family get-togethers. No more excuses. A smaller or narrower basket could be used if necessary, depending on the storage space.

This system would work on a shelf as well if using a basket - any basket - that can slide out easily. The containers are stacked neatly and the lids are contained; everything is visible. Efficient use of space and no time wasted searching for a missing lid.

The belongings of this drawer are still available for the littler kids to play with and for me they have made meal times easier, no question. Everyone is happy!

Once again, thank you, Tiffany. I am sure everyone who has visited has taken away at least one new organizing tip. Please do stop by and visit me any time on A Room with a View.

Thanks Lisa!  I love containers that corral!