Start Small; Finish Big

If there's one tip I can pass along that will lead you to organized bliss, it's this: Start small.

Like most people, you probably have a jam-packed schedule and very little time to spare. You probably realize how much you need to get organized, but you don't know where to start. And you just ignore it or shove it in the closet. So, I recommend that you start small.

Just organize one drawer or one shelf a day. Move from room to room as you desire. You won't see major progress, but you'll see some. Best of all, you won't have unfinished projects but a series of finished, organized projects. 

Preventing Toy Seepage, Episode I: Start from the Beginning

Ah, toy seepage, the gradual--or sudden--flow of toys into your previous adult spaces. It's annoying. The best way to prevent it is to not allow your children to have toys. But that's not practical, realistic or reasonable. The best practical, realistic and reasonable way to handle it is to start from the beginning, before you bring your bundle of joy home from the hospital.

So, what are you to do to prevent this? Here's a gameplan:

• Determine the amount of space you have for toys. Be realistic. Unless you're die-hard minimalists, you'll need more than one tiny bin or shelf.  
• Try to explain your situation to loved ones when they ask what you need. Explain that you have only limited space for the baby's toys. Point them to your registry or tell them gift cards are always welcome. I shouldn't have to say this, but I will. Always be gracious when you receive a gift, even if it's too big and you explained your limitations. Afterall, God invented customer service so we can make returns. (OK. He really didn't, but sometimes good customer service seems like a gift from God.)
• Pick out concealed storage pieces that are functional and beautiful. I'll round up some of my current favorites next month.

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• When your little bundle of joy begins to play with her toys, pick them up as she goes and routinely clean them out.

This gameplan is a little simplistic, but you should be able to tailor it to your needs.

What toy storage strategies have you developed?

Storage Wish List Roundup

Our house has been a disaster since we brought C home, but it wasn’t much better before she came along. With project after project, we’ve fallen into a rut of waiting until the whole house is finished before organizing other parts. Here are some inspiration items to get my house organized.

Mission Bench

I really like the shape of this bench, but I'd prefer it in black. The bottom provides handy storage for shoes that are worn most frequently. This would work really well under a coat rack by my side door.

Classroom Construction Paper Storage

This would be ideal to put in my office closet for storage. I would probably need several, so I could store paper by color and type. I would also give printable labels and clear 3-ring sheet protectors there own slots. 

Commercial Chrome 5-Shelve Storage Unit

N and I have a lot of stuff in our garage. Well, actually, N has a lot of stuff in his garage. We have some shelves similar to this. It would be handy to line a couple walls with these to store paint, tools, car parts, etc.

River Ridge Kids 2-Piece Storage Bins (Aqua and Orange)

 

In a year or two, N and I plan to convert our guest room into C's and her future sibling's playroom.  The office will welcome the guest bed and serve a dual purpose. I have two of these bookshelves from Walmart in the office that would need to be moved so guests can get to the bed easier. I'd buy several of these bins and place them on about three or four similar bookshelves (repurposing the two from the office). (A little overhang from the bins won’t be a problem.)

I'll probably paint the bookshelves cream to match the trim in the room. Once screwed to the wall for support, they'll make an easy and inexpensive place to store toys. The little rope handles and cut outs look easy for little hands to pull. It would also be easy to attach a laminated label of the bins' contents. The aqua and orange colors are also really appealing to me and could serve as the inspiration for the room.  

Billy Bookcase

The standard Billy Bookcase should be narrow enough to fit around the window in our office. Ideally, the queen guest bed would sit directly under the window flanked with Billy Bookcases. I’d probably paint these cream and trim them out to give them a more custom built-in look. The curtains will help disguise about an inch of empty wall between the bookcase and the window.

Kylie Storage Bench

This leather bench would look great in our master bedroom under the window. It would provide a place to store extra blankets and pillows. Our decorative pillows could also sit on top overnight.

Lastly, I’m on the lookout for an armoire. N currently uses a rickety five-drawer chest in a corner with our TV over the top. Because the TV is attached to the wall, it looks a little too hospital like. I think replacing the dresser with a tall armoire would make it appear less like a hospital. We could also use the top shelves of the armoire to store blankets and pillows, and then we probably wouldn't need the bench.

Do you have any special organization items that work well for you?