Tuesday, June 14, 2011

top 10 :: organizing tips


Lately I've been on a bit of an organizing mission. I get this way occasionally. Where every single thing laying around the house drives me absolutely crazy. I go into what I like to call, full-on P.O.M. (psychotic organizing mode). It's a real disease people. If you have ever stayed up past 2:00am alphabetizing something, you probably have it too.

So, today I thought I would share my personal top 10 list for organizing tips. If you too have been diagnosed with P.O.M. these tips might help...

1) Color coordinate. Because let's just be honest, everything looks better in Roy G. Biv order. This is especially true in your closet. Try it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

2) Baskets, baskets, baskets. It doesn't matter if they are wicker, wire or plastic... just as long as they have 4 sides and a bottom. Heck, they can even just have 3 sides... just make sure they have a bottom... that is a pretty key factor.

3) Use a planner. I'm preaching this one to myself... (use your flippin' planner Julia). Statistics prove that if you write something down you are like 80% more likely to remember it and do it... something like that.

3) Label everything. If I had beautiful labels like these, I would label everything. But even a simple label machine can do the trick. I once bought a billion little shipping tags and have used those for labeling my craft baskets (and they make perfect gift tags).

4) Have a purse within a purse. I'm a big fan of compartments. In my purse I have like 3 different little bags inside... a wallet, a small coin purse for my lip gloss and mascara, and another little clutch for my coupons and misc cards. I'm thinking about buying that teal cotton pouchee pictured above... it's a brilliant idea for those of us that like to switch out purses frequently.

5) Make a home for everything. If you know where everything is supposed to go, it is much easier to actually put it there. It's those times that we don't know where something goes that we throw it on the counter, floor, or the dreaded junk drawer.

6) Create a filing system. Simple is key here. The more complex your filing system is, the more likely you are to not use it. This is another one that I'm preaching to myself. Make sure your filing system is easy to access and simple to keep up with.

7) Repurpose items to fit your needs. Look at your furniture and decor in a different light. Maybe that kitchen island would actually be perfect for your craft room... or maybe you can turn that salvaged shutter into a beautiful message board like Martha? Think outside the box.

8) Keep like-items together. If your kids always color at the kitchen table, keep a drawer in the kitchen with crayons and coloring books. Keep your cleaning supplies in one bucket that you can tote around the house with you as you clean. Keep your bills, envelopes and stamps in a spot by your desk for easy access. You get the idea...

9) 3-ring binders are your friend. A 3-ring binder is the simplest way to keep things together, yet hidden all at the same time. I always like to search for standard binders that I know I will be able to purchase more of in the years to come. I try to avoid the really cute decorative binders (which is really hard) because I like the consistency of using the same color/brand, etc. I'm a huge fan of the Kolo products and American Craft albums.

10) Make a list. Write.it.down. I'm a big advocate of legal pads and sticky notes. You are so much more likely to finish that project if you have a list to help you out. Promise.

I will be linking this over to Oh Amanda and It's a Crafty Life.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post! I love these tips...I need to start doing some of them more often.

And I am totally stealing that shutter idea. HELLO! Instead of paying $100s at PB, I can find an old shutter and use that! Genius :)

xoxo
Jess

Janaye Rose said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Janaye Rose said...

Umm Julia, I just have to say I own that label maker thats at the top of your post and Jonny makes fun of me for it.

But, I am that girl.

Anonymous said...

I have that labeller too, though it's MIA and I can't imagine how I lost my labeller. It has a home, and the basket that was it's home is missing too! I get a version of P.O.M but mine is where I look around at all the stuff thats out of place and say to myself " just throw all this Sh** out so I don't have to organize it".

Melissa Jo said...

All of these are so true! And your right a closet is always so much prettier in ROY G BIV order, for years I was the only person I knew who thought this way. Glad I'm not alone!

Bluerose said...

Great post(that I really needed)! I'm trying very hard to get organized these days.
I really like the shutter idea. Now if I can find one! :)

Amanda MacB said...

Purses within a purse. GREAT idea. I need to do that! (Or purses within a diaper bag.)

ICStarzz said...

these are all really great ideas! And I should probably work on being more organized! So bookmarked! :D lol

-Samantha
www.kreativekaring.com

mleslie43 said...

So you are saying I should probably get rid of my junk drawer?

Caroline said...

Awesome tips! Thank you for sharing these! I totally agree with Roy G. Biv, baskets, and planners. I'd love to try #7, 8, 9, 10!

Casey said...

Popping over from 10onTues. Great tips - thanks for sharing! Like Caroline, I totally agree with color-coordinating the closet, looks so much nicer!

Anonymous said...

I have to laugh...I thought I was the only one who liked to color coordinate my closet! :-) Love using baskets too, wish the cute ones were a little bit cheaper. I'm resisting the urge to buy new baskets to replace the blue plastic ones I use now. And although I {love} a good to do list, I've never been one to keep a planner. Maybe soon! Thanks for linking up!

Salena said...

LOVE this post! Thanks for some reminders on some projects I need to work on this summer!

forever m@mmy said...

Wow, I'm jealous ;-)

Love to organize, but not only things somehow multiply. They don't want to stay, where I put them

But I will get there!