Practical Organizing Solutions and Time Saving Strategies

Tackling Entryway Clutter

May 15, 2012 Leave a Comment

I was so thrilled to receive this letter from a reader. I can’t help it, I just love tackling clutter! Read on to check out some of the ideas I offered to help tackle this readers cluttered entryway.

Dear Space for Living,
Help! I long for an uncluttered entry way. We moved into our new home about 6 months ago and our entryway has turned into a total dumping ground.
The entryway includes the space next to the front door and one wall of our living room. I need space for storing shoes and mail when we first come inside the house. I also need a functional workspace and place to handle paperwork and paper clutter.
Any tips to make sense of this madness?
Sincerely,
E.B.

Thanks for submitting your pictures E.B.! You definitely have a tight space. You mentioned you want to unclutter the space. In addition to reducing the actual number of things along this wall, the first goal is to get things off of the ground. We can do that by going vertical and getting different storage that fit your needs better.

Especially in a small space it is important to have open floor space. It helps to visually make the space seem larger and less cluttered.

Step 1 Divide and Conquer

First up is shoes. Sort your shoes into two different piles. One pile will be your everyday shoes which will go back on the shoe rack. Make another pile for seasonal and special occasion shoes which will have to find another home. Since you have such a small space you have to limit the amount of shoes that are stored on your rack to only your every day shoes.

Step 2 Go Vertical

Instead of lining the shoe racks along the wall, try stacking one on top of the other. I only know this works because I actually have these same shoe racks stacked in my own entry closet (IKEA, right?). If you are worried about them toppling, you can use small nails to hold them together. This provides a much needed visual break along the wall.

Step 3 Containerize, with a Purpose!

The top shelf of the shoe rack can be used as a landing spot. It seems like it is already serving that purpose for drop and go items but let’s get containers and consciously decide what needs to be there.

As you sort through the pile of items by your shoe racks be aware of why it was left there. Are they things to do? Do they have a home elsewhere but you were just too tired to put them away? Do you need to keep them in your entry permanently? The answers to these questions will determine what your containers will hold to avoid everything being tossed in.

A large basket would be perfect as a holding spot for errands. Stash everything you need for errands (to return, to take with you to work the next day) in your errand basket until you need it.

Before you head out to buy new containers, grab baskets and/or trays from around your home. In your picture I see a tray basket on that small bookshelf in your workspace. That basket would be perfect for this area. Decide if it will it be an inbox for mail, or maybe a space to hold your keys and sunglasses. It can even be a place to empty your purse? Keeping these items contained will help cut down on visual clutter (and prevent frantic last minute searches for your sunglasses and keys).

You can also add 2 small baskets to the second shelf on the shoe rack if you have room. These would act as a type of drawer for any other miscellaneous supplies you need in the entry.

Step 4 Keep Going Up

Swap out those magazine racks with two hooks for your backpack and other everyday bag. Don’t worry, we can incorporate the magazine racks into the workspace.

As I was checking out your pictures I started sketching a few of my ideas. I decided it would make more sense if I just went ahead and shared my drawing. So here it is, my own hand-drawn sketch, I’m so high tech. Don’t laugh too hard. Technically I did have one semester of art class in 7th grade, but besides that, my art skills are all self-taught. Haha.

You get the idea, right? When organizing, most of the time there is no need to buy anything new. However, here is a collection of supplies.

Ikea basket (They have a variety of types in this 12in cube size). $14.99
Two Byholm baskets make drawer-type storage for other launch pad supplies. $6.99 each
Ikea hooks $4.99 each
West Elm tray $22.00
Two Ikea shoe racks (already owned)

If you are sick of the shoe racks and have a larger budget, check out the HEMNES shoe cabinet or the SKÄR cabinet from Ikea.

You would have to measure to see if they fit. It is hard to see where the window actually starts. It looks like there would still be room for a small tray on top.

I hope that helps give you some ideas for a clutter-free entryway! Next time I’ll share some great options for that workspace of yours! And be sure to share your after pics!

Do you have an organizing challenge for Space for Living? Submit your pictures or questions and we’ll give you your very own hand drawn sketch to get you started too. =)

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4 Reasons You Can’t Get Organize and How to Fix It

May 10, 2012 1 Comment

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You know how to get organized. You’ve read many, maybe even hundreds of articles about getting organized. You’ve read a couple of books and watched the TV segments about getting your life in order. You may have even peeked in on an episode or two of Hoarders while assuring yourself, “At least I’m not that bad.”

You know the steps: sort, purge, put like with like, containerize, and then put everything back together. You have seen it done plenty of times.

So what is the holdup? What is it that stops you from turning your knowledge into action? Don’t buy any more pretty containers before you take a moment to think about that question. The answer you find may be simple or may be a combination of reasons. Check out a few roadblocks and how to knock them out of the way.

You quickly get overwhelmed?

You start to organize with the best of intentions, but 30 minutes later you look up and you’re surrounded by random piles scattered all around you. A much bigger mess then you started with! You have no idea where to go from that moment and become frustrated when you can’t see the progress right away. Does this sound familiar?

Instead of trying to conquer a whole closet or desk, break projects into smaller bite-sized pieces. Set goals like going through one small pile each day and focusing on what needs action or what you know is to keep and toss.

Avoid procrastinating on decisions. Try to only have one thing in your hand at a time and make the decision on that item quickly. Try not to set it to the side and move on to another item or paper. Make it a habit to decide now instead pushing it off to later. Even if it takes you an extra moment or two to figure out where that item should live, it’s worth it.

It might be time to call in some back up. Do you have a friend who could help you for an hour or two? You can always return the favor in the next week or month by helping her with a project at her house. You can also hire a professional organizer, even if it is to help you create a plan. That might just be the support you need to get unstuck.

Once you do get an area organized, focus on daily maintenance. For paper clutter, continue to process the mail daily or clear off your desk before moving on to the next task. In the closet, have a permanent donation box to keep giveaways headed for the door.

Your expectations are too high?

You see the pictures of those perfectly organized spaces (you know the ones where it doesn’t even look like someone lives there) and feel discouraged because your home looks nothing like those glossy images. Maybe you are waiting until you have the time or money to make it look like that picture perfect image. Or you feel your home could never look like that so why bother.

There is no one perfect way to organize. There are so many different ideas on how to get your daily papers in order. Just try one and tweak it as you go. It is easy to get caught up in searching for the best way; but it is more important that you do it rather then waiting to find the perfect system or buy the perfect desk.

It is okay to be organized just enough. As Julie Morgenstern puts it, keep in mind your “external realities.” If you have young kids or a large family or are in the middle of a big life change, you must remember to give yourself permission to have things organized just enough. We don’t have to live up to Martha Stewart standards especially if our circumstances don’t allow it. As long as you can find what you need and you are not fed up with clutter, you may be perfectly organized for you.

You really don’t have the time?

We are all moving at such a fast pace. If you truly are overworked and can’t find the time to get organized, take a look at your expectations and your specific circumstances. You will make time for what is important to you. There will be a point where you will get frustrated enough to make the time for getting organized. But also be honest with yourself; are you using your busy schedule as an excuse?

Get others involved. Invite the family to help sort and purge by choosing what they still use and what can be donated. Declare a family work day (even if it is only 2-3 hours). Plan something fun to celebrate a job well done.

It is harder to organize with small kiddos around. Remember that you are teaching them important organizing skills and you’ll be surprised at what your children pickup. However, if you have little ones, it might be worth it to hire a sitter while you conquer a big project.

Cut something out from your schedule, even if it is just for a short time. Could you limit the TV, browsing the internet or even that third extracurricular activity for your son or daughter. You might be surprised about how much time you can find in your schedule. If you are having trouble, try making a time map by listing out your tasks and time spent on each activity. Tracking your time for a week can help you to find what can be cut or grouped together for better efficiency.

Do a little at a time. Disorganization doesn’t happen overnight so be realistic about how long it takes time to put things in order. Since it usually takes longer than a day to complete major projects, focus on small 10 minute projects each day or small 2 hour projects on the weekend.

You’ve tried to get organized before but it didn’t work?

Just like being healthy is a way of life, and one that you work at daily (you don’t exercise once and become healthy); getting organized takes more then one purge session. It takes daily and weekly tasks and maintenance to train and flex your organizing muscle.

There will be days when you don’t feel like getting up a little earlier to workout. There will be days when you miss that workout. There will be days when there is a pile of mail you don’t feel like going through. It is a process. But don’t worry, it can quickly become a habit that doesn’t feel like work at all. With practice and consistency, you can develop discipline to work on your organizing a little bit each day.

Keep small daily tasks in order like incoming papers, meals, and chores. Keeping those constant upkeep items under control will do a lot for your peace of mind and keep up your motivation to organize other areas of your life.

Routines are friends especially when keeping those small daily tasks in order. Getting into the habit of automatically moving through your daily tasks can be life changing to your day. You know what needs to be done and you do it, which means less laboring over decisions or getting sidetracked. Your day will feel more organized and you will find more time.

Examine what is working. Look around, what is something that works and flows really smoothly in your home? The mornings? Laundry? Getting dinner on the table? Paying bills? Going through mail? Find just one thing that works really well. What is it about that process that makes it go so smoothly? Do you plan enough time? Have plenty of preparation? Get help from others? Focus on that positive and replicate it into other areas in your life.

via Pottery Barn

No matter what is stopping you, we are here to cheer you on to take action! Let us help. Do you have a particular trouble spot you have a question about? Let us know on Facebook or shoot me an email. Find out more about our organizing services. Sign up for our monthly newsletter of organizing tips or check out the tools and tips section in the menu above. We’re here to support you on your organizing journey!

{1 Comment} Posted Under: Organizing Solutions

The Winner is…and Spray Paint Blunders

April 30, 2012 1 Comment

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I was thrilled with the turnout for Space for Living’s 1st ever giveaway! I thought it was about time to say thanks! And what better way than to host a giveaway with some of my favorite organizing products. (You can read more about them here.)

Now onto the winner!………..the winner is Laura, who says the next thing on her to-do list is “working on a better way to organize my jewelry so it’s all easily visible and accessible – I have a cork board and some other items but need to finish!”

Congrats Laura! I know you will love these organizing goodies. And if you entered but did not win, don’t worry, I can guarantee we’ll have plenty more giveaways here at Space for Living!

And since this post is about my new favorite thing (giveaways), I figured I’d share a little update on my other favorite thing… spray paint. Still on a high from my recent updates on various spray painting makeovers, I decided to keep on spraying. I thought it would be adorable to monogram the two hanging bins in my daughters’ room.

The bins hold their outfits for next day. Laying out clothes each night really helps the morning routine go smoother. After getting dressed, pjs go into the bins. I found it helps avoid pjs automatically getting thrown into the dirty clothes basket after only one wearing.

While browsing through Ikea’s inspiration rooms I saw their updated bins now had numbers. Cute right?

And of course I thought, I can do that! And wouldn’t it be so cute if it had the first letter of their name instead of numbers! Like most preschoolers, they are obsessed with “their letter” (plus letters are easier to tape off than numbers).

I was still filled with wide-eyed anticipation while taping off the letters. I should have had my first clue of what was to come when I was having a hard time getting the tape to stick.

I was so blinded by my infatuation with spray paint, I forgot all about a little thing called FABRIC PAINT!

Oh, spray paint, how I thought you were all powerful. Yeah, I am still thinking how I can redeem these things. So far I have just outlined the letters with a black sharpie. (Sidenote: Picture was inspired by this pic on Pinterest which left me laughing for hours!)

While we’re at it, let’s share one more! My next spray painting flub actually turned out a bit better than expected. I first saw these inspiration pics on Pinterest (courtesy of Martha Stewart of course). I can’t explain it, but I was just completely drawn to these bookends made from old bricks spray painted gold.

When my daughters and I found a chipped brick on our next walk, I knew it was meant to be. In my excitement, I didn’t even take a before pic. A little gold spray paint I already had on hand (from making leprechaun traps for St. Patrick’s day) transformed my little brick into a gold bookend.

There is just one tiny problem, I don’t display books in my home. I display loads of kids books, but all of our other books are in cabinets.

So there it is, a gold bookend just sitting there, bookless. I did take out a few books to try to work it into the décor but I just wasn’t feeling it. Maybe I’ll give it as a gift to a book loving friend. A bookend for the next giveaway?? haha

The take away lesson for today? Think before you spray paint! Simple but true. Here is a list of tips by Becky Higgins to get help you perfect your own spray painting techniques. And here is a collection of thrifty spray painting ideas in case your own creative juices did not get squashed by my own little blunders.

Do you have any spray paint mishaps? Or spray paint triumphs? Share away!