Turn an old closet with bi-fold doors in the laundry room or hall into a cute drop zone. Take off the doors and build in a bench with cubbies underneath for baskets and bins. Board and batten or shiplap the walls inside and mount hooks to hang dog leashes, keys, jackets, and book bags. In living areas, store electronic remotes in a decorative table top container with a lid. This can also hold reading glasses, nail files, and small personal items. Use jewelry organizers made for drawers to store batteries by size. Store your child’s artwork and school papers in a sturdy expandable portfolio from an office supply store. It’s most important to keep storage solutions simple and convenient for them to be effective. Also, discard those items you really don’t use or need.
The bottom line in staying organized is slowing down. We all move quickly and load our days with more than we can begin to accomplish. The expression “10 pounds in a 5-pound bag” fits most people I know. You have to decide you want to be organized, and then you have to take baby steps to accomplish it. Start with small areas like the linen closet. You can organize this space in less than an hour and it feels so good to have that accomplished. Move on to the coat closets, and then to the pantry. As you see how these little improvements help remove some of the disorder, you will be inspired to do more.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and because of its constant use, it’s a space that needs a place for everything. Luckily, there are a lot of great organizational tools that you can incorporate here to keep everything tidy. Try adjustable, built-in dividers for cutlery and utensils, and include tray dividers, which come in handy for storing cookie sheets and platters. Opt for drawers of all sizes to increase functionality. Large, deep drawers can house pots, pans, mixing bowls, and even casserole dishes. Other unique cabinetry features you might want to consider include swing-outs for corner cabinets, custom drawers for storing spices, and lift mechanisms for large stand mixers and other appliances.
There are storage and organizational challenges in every room of the home, but no room is more challenging than the kitchen. Not only is the kitchen the area for cooking and eating meals, it often does double duty as the place for bill paying, homework, and laundry. It is typically the hub of ALL family activity. So a well-planned, well-organized kitchen with dedicated storage solutions for every zone is vital for a functioning space.
A key way to get and stay organized (in the kitchen or any room) is to have functional, flexible, and fun storage solutions in each room. Nobody wants to put away their baking sheets in a rickety, cluttered, dingy drawer. If you’re on a slim budget, try some shelf paper, spray paint, and a trip to the Container Store. If you have a little more to spend, invest in some nice stainless or wood dividers. And if you decide it’s time to renovate, do some digging into the newest and best storage features out there and hire a professional (designer, space planner, or organizer) to really make your space work for you.
Juliet Braly, NCIDQ, Juliet Braly Interior Design
I like to use furniture pieces that serve “double duty.” A good example of this would be a storage bench at the foot of the bed. It gives you a space to fold heavy bedding and you can place shams and throw pillows onto it in the evenings to keep them off your feet and floor. The storage part can be used for anything from heavy winter sweaters to extra linens. There are also wonderful bed options now with built-in drawers. These range from juvenile to higher-end beds worthy of a master bedroom. Less bedroom clutter equals a better night’s sleep.
Tiffany Anich, Allied ASID, Southerly Abode