how do baby's have so much STUFF?

I've had a few people ask me about Madeleine's closet and how I have her things organized, so here is a little tid bit about organizing the baby and the million things they accumulate.

Her closet has a top shelf that is hard to get to so I bought two large bins and I store our back up inventory of diapers and extra blankets in them.

Her dirty clothes hamper matches the bins and sits on the floor under the 'long hang' rod since her clothes are so tiny and we have a lot of space there.  I also have a smaller hamper for her downstairs so I don't have to treck up to her room every time she soils something.  Another perk about her short, tiny clothes, is the extra space under her double rods.  I keep her pack and play and suitcase on the floor there.

I also purchased a hanging shoe organizer and four bins, all in a linen finish.  The bins hold bloomers, hats, burp cloths and extras (back up wipes, disposable changing pads, place mats, diaper genie refills, etc).  These will be great bins for her to grow into as they can easily change to hold bows, headbands, tights, and other goodies.

I registered for baby hangers and ended up hanging a lot of her clothes.  I bought these cool hanging dividers to keep her clothes sectioned off by age/size.  This has been extremely helpful because I know exactly where I can pull from for her size at the moment.

Over the door I hung a trio of hooks that hold her little tote bags and over night duffles.

There is a whole blank wall on the left side that I envision putting cool  mirrors on, and maybe a shelf or two for little nick knacks. But I will wait until she is older.  I would also love to paint the closet to match the bedroom.  I just loved how it felt to paint our pantry so I want to eventually paint all of our closets:)

thinning out

This year I would like to thin out my house, my closets, and yes my jeans but that's another story!  Would you like to be lighter and have more storage space throughout your home?  Well let's do it!

My goal is to tackle certain areas of the home or categories of items one month at a time so we don't get overwhelmed trying to go through everything at once (who has that much time anyway?).

The first month of 2014, let's thin out our SHOES.  The average person has around 30 pairs of shoes but only wears 1/4 of them! (I counted mine and I'm embarrassed to tell you but it's more than 30! How many do you have?) 

Our shoes are made for walking not sitting on a shelf in a shoe box!  Think about it, since our feet stop growing we tend to accumulate more and more shoes because we don't grow out of them like clothing!  I challenge you this month to go through your shoes, and your spouses' and kids' shoes as well, and donate the ones that you've outgrown or don't wear anymore.  

There are two organizations I found that collect shoes for a good cause; Soles4Souls and Recycled Runners. In our neighborhood they come by once a year and pick them up on your doorstep or you can find a location near you by clicking the links above.

September = Master Closet

Elfa Storage Solutions from The Container Store

September is the month to dedicate to your master closet.  Here some storage tips to make the most of you space.

Wayfair.com

Decorate.  Yes it's a closet.  Yes, only you and your significant other see it (usually). But as The Container Store says, you should love your closet so much that you want to do a little dance every time you walk in.  Paint the walls a calming color, add crown molding, utilize an ottoman (hello! extra storage and cuteness), lay down a patterned rug, and touch it off with awesome lighting.  You should love how you look, so love the space that stores your look.

The Container Store stackable shoe boxes only $1.89!
Discounts available for bulk purchases

Shoe in.  There are tons of ways to store shoes.  In college, my closet space was limited so I used under bed boxes with wheels to store all of my shoes.  Now, we have a whole wall of shoe shelves.  You can also use stackable shoe boxes or a shoe rack.  All this said, there is no excuse for your shoes to be piled up on the floor.



Huggable hangers.  These are the best!!  I converted when we lived in Jacksonville because our master closet was a laundry room, linen closet, utility closet, and garage all in one, we were desperate for space.  Huggable hangers are slim so you save space, clothes stay on so they look tidy, and there is an accessory hook for you to actually hang up to 4  items on one hanger.

Purge.  I know it's hard but it has to be done.  Go through your closet at least once a year and donate clothing, accessories, and shoes that you don't wear as much.  My sister-in-law, Becky, has a sister Tara, who's husband Barry (wow! did you get that?) has a great system for purging items.  Whenever he wears a piece of clothing, he adds a safety pin to the hanger.  This helps him keep track of all the shirts he has worn and how many times.  Although he uses this method as to not repeat, this is also great to know which items to purge.  No safety pin=toss!  Tara, send me a picture of Barry's shirts so I can share:)  Check out Tara's awesome blog here.

If you have a great storage solution for your closet, share it with me at getittogetherproorganizing@gmail.com

2012 Copyright Get It Together Professional Organizing

if the shoe fits

Our closet had this wall of shelving that the builder installed.  Since the master bath doesn't have a linen closet, I'm assuming the shelving should be used as a substitute, but we decided we would rather use a hall closet for linens and use the shelving for shoes.


The spacing of the shelves wasn't functional and we ended up with piles of shoes on every shelf. 1. You couldn't grab a pair without causing a shoe avalanche and 2. scuffs and streaks were multiplying in the crowded space.

I had the idea to create matching shelves and just mount them in between those that were already there.  That would leave the perfect amount of space for single rows of shoes on each shelf.

We purchased particle boards and trim boards from Lowe's and cut them to fit using Joe's miter saw. We painted before the install because with such little space between shelves, the corners and bottoms would be too difficult to reach.  Luckily, the previous owners left a bunch of white enamel paint and it matched perfectly!

First, we attached the trim boards by gluing them to the wall and then brad nailing for extra support.  If we anticipated more weight than just shoes, screwing the trim board into the studs would have been sturdier, but this works just fine for shoe storage.  Next, we attached the particle boards with wood glue on top of the trim board.  After it dried, we sealed the cracks with white silicon and added a little touch up paint.

The finished product looks like this.....

We grouped shoes together in dressy, casual, flats, heels, flip flops, tennis shoes.  For dressier shoes, I left them in their shoe boxes (I plan to buy matching shoe boxes) and placed them on the top shelf.  Seasonal boots will switch out from the bottom and the second top shelf once it gets colder (I also hope to buy matching boot boxes).  The top 3 shelves have more space for taller heels.

This shoe storage solution is very functional and looks clean.  I feel like it makes our closet look taller too since the shelving uses so much vertical space. We love it, and I think the shoes do too!

Copyright 2012 Get It Together Professional Organizing

case logic

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What do luggage and holiday/party decorations have in common? Both are challenging to store.  No one wants to climb into the attic every time you travel and who wants tubs of decor in their master closet?

This family had a spare closet in the hall where miscellaneous items found a home.  After sorting through it all and putting items where a home already existed, we dedicated the space to what they needed most, a luggage and seasonal decor closet.

If you find yourself swimming in suitcases, simply combine them like a Russian nesting doll, put one inside the other. 

In order to maximize the vertical storage space, we found a way to hang suitcases and duffel bags.  Just invest in some over sized "S" hooks and bend them to hug the closet rod.  The other side of the hook grasps the luggage handle.


 For decor, group items into seasonal or holiday categories.  Purchase stackable bins large enough to house each category and then label accordingly. 

For wreaths, just flip the wreath hanger towards the inside of a closet door and hang.

The back wall of this closet was completely scuffed. Mr. Cleans Magic Erasers worked a miracle!



Copyright 2012 Get It Together Professional Organizing

wrapping wonderland

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An organizing challenge many of us face during the holiday season is storing our wrapping supplies. For one, we all have to wrap gifts throughout the year and sometimes it's a hassle gathering all the supplies from different areas of the house. Two, we all have more wrap, gift boxes, ribbon, tags, bows, etc. than can fit in those plastic gift wrap containers. The solution: a fabulous space capable of displaying all your wrapping supplies right at your fingertips.



This closet had previously housed all the home gift decor but it was impossible to find anything, and they wound up purchasing new tissue and gift bags in spite of digging through the mess. With the help of an old dresser found in the client's garage, we were able to transform this space into a gift wrap wonderland that now houses ONLY gift wrap essentials and entertaining supplies.

We dedicated one drawer to tissue paper and small gift boxes, another to gift bags, and the bottom drawer to crackle paper and fluff. The second drawer of the dresser was broken so we used the open space to store gift boxes. The face of the broken drawer didn't go to waste! We added a couple of brackets and turned it into a shelf to store bins of bows, and floral decor. On the surface, a letter sorter holds gift tags and spools of ribbon are strung across for easy access. On the side of the dresser two hooks are used to hang over sized gift bags.

TIP: During the holidays, create a wrapping station (even if you don't have one permanently) and allow your family members to sign up for shifts. This will give each member the opportunity to wrap without risking their gifts being discovered, and also encourages gifts to be wrapped before Christmas Eve!

When working with a closet under stairs, utilize the space in the back. In this case we used wooden crates turned on their sides to hold folded table linens and runners. The client only uses them when she's entertaining and won't have to retrieve them often.

Merry Wrapping!!

Copyright 2011 Get It Together Professional Organizing

easy come, easy go

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This bedroom closet was prime real estate for the men in the household.  It first belonged to the oldest brother, and when he moved out the next brother moved in. Now that he is out of the house, the youngest currently occupies the space.  The issue?  When the boys moved out, their stuff did not!  What we had was a closet with three generations of clothes, uniforms, sports memorbelia, school projects, and pictures.

We began by sifting through all the clothes and items at the bottom of the closet, working our way to the very top shelf.  We categorized things for each brother and then sub-categorized within, such as papers, pictures, and clothes.  The items belonging to the brother currently living in the bedroom stayed.  We hung clothes facing the same direction on all four rods which is pleasing to the eye and makes selecting outfits easier. The drawer unit in the center is dedicated to socks, underwear, athletic shorts, t-shirts, and swimsuits.  The two green tubs are perfect for storing important papers and sports memorbelia.  Their location is convenient which prevents those items from accumulaing on the floor.

I have heard many of my friends complain that when they FINALLY get to move into their own space, their parents/in-laws bombard them with high school artifacts and childhood memories that they no longer want in their house.  My suggestion for the parents is to neatly pack up all the items into a storage box that your children can easily take off your hands and put right into their attic.  Let's face it, you didn't want it in your house and honestly neither do they.  As we get older, however, we'll enjoy looking back and remeniscing with our children.  If you have already received things from your parents or in-laws and it didn't come pre-packaged, don't stress! Don't even bother sorting through it.  Simply pick out a storage container that you like and pack it all in.  As you are packing you might toss out a few items here and there, but most of it will hide away until you're ready to relive a little.

Copyright 2011 Get It Together Professional Organizing

pillow talk

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This client had a fabulous closet dedicated to store extra linens and pillows for when company came over.  Unfortunately, extra space collects a random assortment of items from all over the house.  In this situation, her closet acquired formal gowns, spare furniture, and workout equipment.

During the purging process, we found a dozen pillows that the client had tested out but ended up not liking.  It's only necessary to keep extra pillows for the couches, air mattresses, or sleeper sofas you will need when company visits. You never know when you will have a full house! 

When purging linens, keep 2 sets of sheets per bed in the house (one on and one to switch when it's time to wash), if you don't have a complete set, donate your spare pieces.  For neat stacks, fold fitted sheets and tops sheets together, but keep pillow cases separate. Group large blankets and throw blankets together for quick grabs during those chilly seasons.

Copyright 2011 Get It Together Professional Organizing

mums the word

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This project earned its title because we cleared out about 10 mums from high school and middle school homecomings!!  Hanging on the wall, as they were in this closet, a small space can feel cluttered with so many colors and ribbons all over the place.  I find that in many of the spaces I organize, mums are saved over the years even though there is no obvious use for them and they have gotten crinkled over time.  Why are they saved then?  Sentimental value is irreplaceable and something so difficult to overcome when clearing out clutter.  I ask my clients simple questions about items they have a hard time letting go of…What does this mean to you? How can you use it still? If it is so important, why do you hide it in the closet?

Either the client comes to terms with passing on the item, or they understand that it is too important and we need to clear other items to make room to keep it.  Some things are easy to make use out of, for example, turning a bunch of old t-shirts into a quilt, but not everything is that easy, especially old spirit mums.  I did some research to see of any ways to reuse an old mum and this is what I came up with…recycling old mums at your school and just replacing the personalized ribbons, using the actual mum for a hair accessory, or weaving the ribbons to make a bulletin board.

This client could part with all but two mums, so we kept them on the wall on either side of a homemade jewelry board.

Another topic this project brings to mind is hangers.  In this space, there were several colors and types of hangers which can make a closet feel uncoordinated.  I suggest choosing two colors to work with; in this case we chose white and teal.  If you can, start with one color on all articles of clothing.  After you wear a piece, change the color hanger.  This is a great way to make sure you don’t repeat an outfit too often. If at the end of a season the original hanger is still in place, you know you can donate that piece of clothing that you never wore. 

For storing hangers, I suggest this product (pictured) found at Bed, Bath, and Beyond or The Container Store.  No more detangling hangers and what an easy way to transfer hangers back and forth to the laundry room!

Copyright 2011 Get It Together Professional Organizing

toy story

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This closet functions as a storage space for two siblings, a boy and a girl.  With limited shelving and a serious lack of floor space, this walk in closet needed to think vertically.  The stacking baskets were a great solution for getting things off the floor and are perfect for kids because they are shallow, color coded, and easy to reach.  Shallow limits the number of toys you put into one basket so kids don't have to dig around and things won't get buried or forgotten. Color coded helps kids keep their belongings separated and easy to find. Easy to reach keeps clean up from being a hassle. When thinking vertically, put items that are rarely used on the very top shelf, such as memory keepsakes or outgrown clothes.  Clear totes are great for this because you can see what's inside without having to drag it down and rummage through it. Hanging shoe storage is also great for vertical space because it leaves you room on the floor for larger toy sets, and when the kids grow up, these small sections are great for accessories and electronic gadgets.

Every child has favorite toys, so give these objects special treatment.  Designate a small tote for each child to store

 what they use the most.  Whether they take the tote into the family room or to grandma's house, everything is in one place and ready to go.

Copyright 2011 Get It Together Professional Organizing