Ask:
I spend a ton of time taking out bags and bags of garbage, I try to put things into the garbage or donate it and no matter what I do, when I walk in the door it still feels and looks like we have too much stuff. I am not sure the best way to organize my kitchen especially but I live in a two bedroom home with no dining room. We only have a living room, no closets at all except one in my room that's full and a half one in my daughter's that's full... a laundry room and a kitchen/bathroom. We have no storage spaces so I can't tuck anything anywhere so I try to get rid of it. I don't know where to put my vaccum cleaner and my carpet cleaner which are now sitting in a corner of the living room, I have my medicines in a container w/ a lid on the side table with a lamp which is the first thing you see when you walk in the door...I'm working on it, I've bought containers, shoe racks, and shelves but I could use some help in figuring out how to make it look less jumbled and how I can keep the clutter out, if I can help it.
Answer:
Buy only ENCLOSED cabinets/entertainment centers/shelf units/baskets, etc. Anything with doors on it that you can CLOSE!! Check Craigslist, Freecycle, Goodwills, etc. You can usually find decent deals for used ones.
I have a BIG house...but with six kids, I also have constant clutter. I am fighting it right now..big time. I spent the day yesterday cleaning out. I had to run errands today, but my plan is to clean out again tomorrow. I am getting rid of anything I have not used in six months...minus off season clothes. I am putting it in kitchen garbage bags..and seperating the bags into goodwill and garage sale! I hope to have a HUGE sale in about three weeks....and I have promised myself that the money I make from it will be put up for a goal. I want to a front yard swing...and by getting rid of my "junk", I am hoping to have "free" money!
Answer:
Aha, a post just for me. I do this for a living (although I'll admit, I'm not perfect at home either).
The first thing I would do is go out and get some really cute over the door shoe organizers. Kohls has some pretty stylish ones, but they can be found anywhere and don't cost much. Put anything BUT shoes in them. I have one on my entryway door for hats, mittens, boots, wallets etc. It is not beautiful, but cute and looks much better than having them all over.
I would also get a small decorative screen, sometimes they are made with photo frames so you can use it as display too. Put it up in the corner to hide your vacuum cleaner etc. This might be a bit more costly...they run anywhere from $40 on up, but if you get the photo kind, you will save on frames later. Another thing you could find at Kohls.
Those are my best quick thoughts, I hope it helps get some ideas going. Think outside the "box" sometimes and use baskets, and vases for storage as well. Good Luck.
Answer:
When you have a small space, try to think of things as double duty. Like using an old trunk for a coffee table (and storage). If you need to leave things out, maybe you could disguise them in a stack of pretty hat boxes. I hang shoe pockets on the backs of my doors to put things in. I've done something really wierd, we don't use our down stairs shower, so I bought a plastic shelving unit and use it for storage and to put my vaccume cleaner and shampooer in. I have a two drawer filing cabinet that I put a cute table cloth on. I use under the bed storage bins. Another idea, if you have an empty corner, you can get one of those pretty screens and hide things behind there too, like your vaccume cleaner. Pretty much everything in my house must also serve as storage space. There is a show on HGTV called "This Small Space." Try to tune into that if you get a chance, they have tons of ideas.
Answer:
Wow, great ideals!!! I hadn't even thought of that!
Does anyone have any suggestions for in the kitchen or my medicine. I need to have it where I can remember it-(althought that still doesn't always work), and a big container with a lid on a side table when you first walk in isn't cute at all...any suggestions?
Answer:
Look for a side table with a drawer in it. I wish I lived close, as I have a TWO drawer side table going into a garage sale!! It is in the middle of the floor behind me as I type!!
Answer:
I'm guessing you don't have room for your meds in the bathroom, huh? Do you have room in a sock drawer? Stick the container in there. Out of sight but you know where it is. do you have an above toilet cabinet? I can never explain them right, so here's a picture of one: If you have room for one of those, I'd get one. you can put your meds in it, among other things. I wish I had space for one in my kitchen - I'd put my garbage can in the bottom space where the toilet normally goes, and have extra space for cookbooks, etc. As for extra storage space, do you have any space under your and your daughter's beds that you can use? If it's full, or if you can't put anything under there b'c there isn't enough height under the frame, you can buy these stilt type things for your bedframe. They look like black traffic cones with the top half hacked off, and a recessed area in the top for the bedframe corners to set into. It raises your bedframe off the floor so you can have more storage under your bed. You can make your own underbed storage by screwing casters to the bottom of an old drawer, or you can find sweater bags, cardboard blanket boxes, etc at Walmart (or check your dollar store for a way cheaper version!). I store a LOT of stuff under our beds.
Also, you can skirt almost anything in regards to furniture. Is your side table an heirloom that can't be messed with? If not, then flip the baby over on it's top, and staple (or use finishing nails if you dont have a staple gun handy) some real pretty fabric along the edge, then staple a thin piece of wood (like paint stir sticks, or something equivalent) matching the edges, so that when you flip it back over, the fabric falls really straight in line with the edge. If you want something not so permanent, sew velcro to the top edge of the fabric and add velcro to the edge of the underside of the table. Attach that way. You'll curtain the bottom of the table, giving you more storage space. Make a couple throw pillows (insanely easy to do) of the same fabric and now you've incorporated it into your room's decor. What problems do you have in the kitchen? I have a small kitchen as well, so maybe I can share some things that have helped me.
Answer:
I just read this post last night and then when I got the mail today I found the following information in my "Good House Keeping Magazine".
Check it out!
Old Fashioned Peg Board: "Used above the counter to hang cooking tools"
Empty Baby Food Jars: "Glue the lid to the underside of a shelf, then unscrew the jar to store small items."
SimpleHuman Grocery Bag Holder $10 (I thought this was cool!) "It fits on the inside of a cabinet door and is superflat".
-"Use pretty napkin holders to corral incoming and outgoing mail."
-"Too Many Lipsticks? Line a gift box with a thin layer of florist's foam. Using a lipstick tube, punch rows of holes in the foam; then stand the tubes label end up."
-"Put Sheets inside their matching pillow cases so linens are always at the ready when you want to make a bed."
-"Organize small odds and ends like jewelry or extra nails and screws in an ice cube tray."
-"Extension cords in one big tangle? Use toilet paper rolls to keep them tidy."
-"Alphabetize and categorize DVDs and Videos, (like classics, holiday, and kids) store them in stackable boxes with labels so your'll know right where to go when you want to watch one."
Answer:
I like alot of these ideals, I can use alot of them.
My kitchen is long and there isn't much storage for pots/pans, so I bought a cabinent for my big items, I put my gigantic pots on top of the fridge, and I bought a cabinent I use for other food storage. Mostly my dishes that are drying are on the counter on top of a kitchen towel. I like the hanging ideal, I can use that for kitchen towels and maybe I can get another storage area in the kitchen. I also like the ideal of stapling cloth on the table. Theres so much to incorporate in the bathroom etc. I'll have to make a list and work on it. THANKS.