Organization is the key to sanity. Have you ever noticed how frantic you get when you're running late and can't find your keys because they're not where you usually put them and then the rest of your day is a disaster? Now what if you had a designated spot in your home for them, that is convenient and easy to use. Would you have a much better day? Now take this example and multiply it by 10. How much better would your life be? This is what we're talking about when we say "organization is the key to sanity." And the foundation of organization? Storage.
You're saying, I live in a tiny home with no closet space, how can I possibly have a good storage system? Or, on the flip side, I live in a huge home and don't know where to begin keeping things. No matter if you fall into one of these extremes or somewhere in the middle, storage solutions will make your life so much easier. After reading an online article from Good Housekeeping, and browsing articles from Martha Stewart (of course!) I have found some interesting tips and tricks:
1. No matter what you do, it has to be convenient for you and the space you are storing in. If you can't get it easily or have to go into the garage to get something you use in the upstairs guest room, you are not going to use it and it will be a waste of time.
2. If people are going to be seeing it alot- like an open closet or kitchen pantry- dress it up and hide the ugly. no one wants to see your various cleaning supplies or dirty rags. Cover them with a pretty table cloth or in a decorative box.
3. Rubbermaid storage boxes are a life saver. Add a sharpie to label the boxes and you are golden. If you don't want to write on the box for fear of using it for something different one day, write the contents or label of the box on a piece of paper, preferably contact paper, and stick it on.
4. Shelves, shelves, shelves. Avoid stacking boxes on top of one another. If you stack, you will constantly be unstacking, and no one wants to through their back out pulling out a box of candles. By using simple shelves, either free standing or attached to the walls, it will help you avoid that.
5. For your garage- if you use this as means to entering your home- think about inexpensive cabinets to store your items. Home Depot has some beautiful options for inexpensive and will make a huge difference on peoples opinion of your home.
6. Have a catch-all station. If you come in a certain way all the time, have a place to store your shoes, hang your coats, put your mittens in, and place your keys. A bench to sit and take your shoes off, a couple hooks to hold you coats, a bin to stash your mittens, a cylinder for umbrellas, and either a hook for keys or small table and dish for keys, etc. Whatever space you're working with, this kind of entry-way station will make life so much easier.
7. Rethink closet storage. Measure your shelves, pick up storage boxes, label them, and return to the closet. You will be amazed at how much space you will clear up by using this method.
8. Have a place for your mail and keep it organized. Different slots for different people or different purposes are helpful. Also, keep a recycle or trash can near this system to be easy access for junk mail.
9. Don't forget your friends in low places. Under the bed, chairs, couches, etc. are all, often untapped, storage locations. Rubber maid makes shallow boxes great for under beds, baskets and other decorative containers, are great for visible spaces. Do you use blankets in your family room? What about in the guest room? Keep them handy using these methods without taking up any additional space than what your furniture already does.
10. Finally, group like items. Use spatulas and spoons for cooking? Store them by your stove top all together. Get out of the shower and put on lotion, Q-tip your ears, and moisturize your face? Keep them all together and near the shower. Go with this principle on shelves, in pantries, or any other space and you will save time, space, and sanity.
These are just a few things I have learned in the effort to claim a little slice of lucidity. Hopefully they will help you too!
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