Getting Organized Series: In the Home Office

Not sure about you, but our family tends to use the home office A LOT! Whether we're paying bills, using the computer, or crafting, our home office gets a lot of action. The last room in the Better Homes and Gardens room-by-room organization guide is the Home Office. Here are some really useful tips for getting your home office in clutter free shape for the New Year.

Communication Haven--A message center at the heart of the home is a quick and easy way to sync everyone's busy schedules. This station was made from a patchwork of magnet, dry-erase, cork, and pegboard squares on the wall behind the built-in desktop.

In Plain Sight--Fill wall-mount pockets near your workstation with bills, items to file, and correspondence so these documents are always in plain sight. Place project- and person-specific materials that aren?t time-sensitive in labeled document boxes or expandable files; that way you can transport relevant documents quickly.

Time to Recharge--A little R&R is important for everyone, including technology. Designate one accessible location, like a desk or console table, for recharging all your personal devices. Choose a charging station that hides messy cords, or repurpose a small basket or other container. Label each charger with a sticker or tab so you can quickly connect. Pin It

Getting Organized Series: The Garage

I LOVE the garage! This is the space where we do a lot of CREATING at our house and we're always trying to think of better ways to get it organized so we can find things quicker. For the New Year room-by-room organization tips courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens, the garage did not go unnoticed and these tips are EXCELLANT!

Enlist Wall Space. Because shelves tend to collect clutter, opt for solutions that mount to the wall or ceiling. They take up less space and require you to designate specific spots for each item. A wall-hung storage system organizes a mountain of sports gear in a slim space, keeping the floor clear of clutter and allowing a car to park nearby.

Think Modular. Modular cabinets combine to form a station for gardening and garage work. A floor rack keeps large tools in check, while smaller tools hang from sliding clips on a slatted wall panel. Short cubbies and drawers provide storage for gardening supplies and form a countertop for potting.

Keep It Convenient.  Encourage the whole family to recycle by designating an easy-to-reach zone for cans, papers, and plastics. A trio of stackable bins forms a compact recycling station that is conveniently located near the door to the house. Plastic containers offer clean, moistureproof storage, while clear labels help keep things in order. Reusable grocery bags are stored nearby for trips to the store. Pin It

Getting Organized Series: For the Kid's Room

Kid's Rooms can be extra challenging for organizing and concurring the clutter. I know our boys rooms can be clean one second and the next it looks like a toy bomb went off without warning! Better Homes and Gardens has some great tips for organizing these hard-to-keep-clean rooms with the little one's in mind--check out these GREAT tips.

Create Special Spots: Make it easy for kids to keep their rooms tidy by creating special, clearly marked spots for absolutely everything they own. Choose small baskets, crates, and pails that are portable and light enough for little ones to tote.

Scale Down: Kids shouldn't have to ask for help to reach their belongings. Make playthings more accessible by installing shelves, cubbies, and hooks at a child's height. Open storage allows kids to display their favorite things, while trunks are perfect for bulky or seldom-used items.

Make Room for Hobbies: Always find room for your child's interests, whether that means bins for sports equipment, a flat surface for drawing, or a special hook for dance outfits.

And, always remember that Independence Matters! If you want an organizing plan to succeed in a child's room, involve your child in the process to devise a system he or she understands. This fosters a feeling of independence -- and excuse-proof cleanup.

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Getting Organized Series: In the Bathroom

Bathrooms can present many challenges for organization. Try these tips courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens for Restoring Order to your Bathroom!

Limit medicine cabinets to items you use every day. Keep medications in original containers on a high shelf or other safe spot, particularly if there are small children in the house. Store remaining items one layer deep, doubling space with acrylic ledges. Rest toiletries in caddies or trays on the vanity so you can lift them for quick cleaning or tuck them away when guests visit.

If your bath lacks a closet, repurpose a cabinet or dresser to keep extra linens and supplies on hand. Bath oils and bulk items, such as cotton swabs, look pretty in glass jars -- plus its easy to know when to restock.

Be sure to Organize Drawers! Grooming is so much more enjoyable when drawers are clean and clutter-free. Use removable organizers in vanity drawers to keep things from migrating. Once a month, remove all toiletries and thoroughly wash containers, trays, drawers, and drawer liners. Remember to toss expired products and transfer unused or out-of-season items to less prominent locations, such as under the sink.

Remember, the secret to organizing the bathroom is to be diligent and ruthless about getting rid of what you don't need. Get rid of the stuff you rarely or never use and keep what you use on a daily basis.

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Getting Organized Series: A Cozy Bedroom

The room I struggle the most with is our master bedroom. I think it has more to do with the fact that I've run out of decorating and design steam by the time I get to the bedroom, but nonetheless, I really paid attention to these tips courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens for the Bedroom.

Try to Go Vertical. You'll be able to rest easy knowing your bedside belongings are free from chaotic clutter. Put blank walls to work with a few shelves within reach of the bed.

Always Contain Dirty Laundry! Have a designated spot to put laundry at the end of each day. Invest in a hamper to prevent clothes pileups on the floor or inside the closet. A dresser with a built-in laundry basket keeps dirty clothes contained in a stylish, out-of-sight location.

Don't forget to Utilize the Foot of the Bed. When space is at a premium, foot-of-the-bed storage is a quick fix for full closets and dresser drawers. A storage-friendly bench, trunk, or bookshelf is a perfect solution for stashing extra linens or out-of-season items. I keep a trunk at the end of our bed for storing toys in so the boys can play in our room and the mess can quickly be put away!

Give items a Final Resting Place. The bedroom may not be first on the list to organize, but dresser tops and chairs can quickly become towers of stuff in need of a home. Track the things that stack up over a week, and create permanent places to keep them in the room. Nightstands combine display space with attractive storage for personal items, extra linens, or books.

Hope you found some of these organizing tips useful; I sure did! Pin It

Getting Organized Series: The Family Room

Our third installment of the getting organized series courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens provides some great advice for organizing your Family Room. Let's face it, most of us spend our quality family time in this room and we need it to be both functional AND comfortable. Getting and keeping the family room organized can be a daily challenge at my house so these tips really gave me some additional ideas for concurring the clutter!

First, you should Develop Zones for your family room. Creating a sense of togetherness is effortless when you choose integrated storage. The first step is to be realistic about how everyone uses the room so you can give each activity some space of its own. Such agreed-upon zones keep activities enjoyable and clutter-contained. You should also try to Control Your Extras by keeping only movies, games, music, and books that you use and realistically fit on your shelves. Labeled photo boxes are stylish and the perfect size for stashing on shelves in an entertainment center or furniture armoire.

This next tip is one I put to use in every room, especially in my family room. Create Space from Thin Air

by creating storage behind a couch, love seat, or armchair. Pull furniture far enough from the wall to allow for open crates or bins, as well as access to them. Furniture pieces such as lift-top ottomans are also ideal for storage-strapped rooms. I LOVE using baskets and pretty bins under couch tables and chairs--great hiding place for magazines & toys!

Lastly, you should make Room for Everyone! Since every family member spends time in this room, it can become a jumble of activities and stuff. Create storage for each activity, whether it's reading, playing games, watching television paying bills, or playing with a pet. Pin It

Getting Organized Series: The Mudroom

The second part in the Getting Organized Series courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens has to do with the Mudroom. While I don't have the luxury of a mudroom, I really enjoyed the tips and think they can be modified for the foyer or any space where you organize the items needed everyday for school and work.

First, think about how you can Hang It Up! Hooks are a simple and inexpensive storage solution. Install enough for everyone's coats, umbrellas, purses, backpacks, and briefcases. This suggestion could easily be modified for the foyer--just hang decorative hooks on the wall behind the front door and you have instant organization AND artwork!

Second, you should Create Shoe Storage. Shoes collect at the entryway, so find a way to contain them. You could use a big basket, a galvanized tray, a simple shelf, or even a painted trash can! Next, trying using shelves or cubbies with handsome labeled bins or cloth-lined baskets to add storage  while creating a smooth and attractive transition into the house

Finally, try to create A Place for Everything. Whether it's a dedicated room or a stretch of wall inside the door, the key is to have a place for all the things you bring in that don't need to go any farther into the house. Make a list of those items -- coats, boots, mail, keys -- and create an easy-access storage spot for each one right by the door. Pin It

Getting Organized Series: In the Kitchen

If you're like me, you really start to get attempt to organized with the start of the New Year. You've just cleared away all the Christmas decorations, have made a New Year's resolution (that you'll attempt to keep), and you've vowed to FINALLY cut the clutter and get organized. I take this on every year with the greatest of intentions yet seem to fall short in getting it done. I did come across this great article in Better Homes and Gardens which gives great tips for getting organized one room at a time. Since I really enjoyed and found some useful tips, I thought I'd make series of it and share it with you for your organizing needs this 2012. Let's kick if off with the most popular room in the house (at least it is at my house), the Kitchen.

BH&G's advice for tidying up your kitchen is to first, Clear The Countertops! Countertops should hold only things you use on a daily basis. Enjoy peace of mind by creating a permanent spot for everything else, including appliances. Place small appliances deep within a corner niche or behind an appliance garage to maximize counter space.

Second, you should divide and conquer your Drawers and Cupboards. Avoid jumbled messes in drawers and cupboards with dividers, bags, and caddies for frequently used items, such as silverware, napkins, and even baking supplies. Most cabinet manufactures have good options for pullouts, shelf inserts, hooks, and other kitchen organizing tools.

One of the hardest things in our house is keeping the kitchen free of clutter. If you're family is at all like ours, you come into the kitchen and drop your keys, briefcase, shoes, kiddos school papers, and all the daily STUFF on the counter so you can look at it after the hustle & bustle of dinner. BH&G's suggestion for curring this problem is to Corral Personal Items.  To prevent the room from becoming a dumping ground, try this rule: By dinnertime, the kitchen must be clear of personal items.

Finally, check out The Big Picture! To get a handle on all the food, gadgets, and equipment that live in the kitchen, catalog those you use regularly and divide them based on where in the room they're most used. Store things as close as possible to where you use them. If you rarely or never use an item, give it away or store it in an out-of-the-way spot, such as in the basement, on high shelves in the pantry, or in the back of a corner cabinet.

Not sure about you, but I certainly plan to put a few of these organizing tips to good use in my kitchen! Pin It

Tips for Redecorating

With our house almost ready for the market (pictures forthcoming), I wanted to give you some quick redecorating tips I've found useful the past several weeks. I've put several to work for us and I think they have made a huge difference in the before and after.

picture courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens Throw pillows are an easy and inexpensive way to add color and cozy to a room. Have fun with them by mixing and matching patterns with solids in order to create contrast. picture courtesy of Southern Accents Dress up plain curtains with trim or ribbon. You can trim the sides, stitch it straight through the middle or create a color block at the bottom to add length. It will help provide unity in your space and give you custom curtains without the heavy price tag! picture courtesy Better Homes and Gardens Add color and interest to any space with mirrors and picture frames. This is one of my "go to" methods for creating interest in a space. You can use spray-paint to add color to mismatched frames. Combine different shapes and sizes of frames to spice it up a bit! And, you don't have to use photographs--you can print inspirational quotes or use your initial--simple and fun! picture courtesy of Cottage Living Turn your ottoman into a coffee table--top it off with a cute tray, some flowers, books or even kids toys. It helps make the room feel lived in and cozy!

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