Before & After: A Little Girl's Closet

A recent client needed help organizing her daughter's closet.....too many bows, shoes, toys, blankets, coats, clothes, and a few odds & ends too.

 

We moved out-of-season clothes into under-bed boxes, which made room for relocated dress-up clothes & accessories from the playroom. The client also purchased these large hinge-top canvas boxes that we designated for keepsake items.

These large pink bins were causing havoc too - they were just too big and her daughter created a mess every time she had to look through them. We moved socks into the dresser (in the bedroom) and lined up her shoes on the shelves (as a trial run. If those become a mess, the next option is a hanging shoe organizer for the back of the door).

The left side shelves needed some TLC too! And some purging :) We made bins for hair bows, purses, blankets, and winter gear (gloves, hats, etc). And placed a large bin on top for sleeping bags.

 And this little wall on the right was not being utilized at all!! The client wanted a good bit of her daughter's toys & books moved from the bedroom to the closet. This cube organizer did the trick, and we re-used a few bins the client already had. Now this little girl has organized bins with doll accessories and dress-up accessories/shoes.

 Happy organizing!

Master Closet: Before & After

A recent client needed help organizing her master closet, and of course I jumped at the chance! She is one of the lucky ones that has a *separate* closet from her husband. (I think this should be a requirement in houses these days, just saying!)

As you can see, we had a great big space to work with (!), but I needed to find a way to use the space more efficiently. The main areas we needed solutions for were:

 

Shoes - Although the client did agree to get rid of some shoes, we were still left with quite a few pairs left. Using a "shelf helper" like this one really doubled the amount of shelves she had for shoes. (Plus we added a shoe rack to the floor on the opposite side of the closet!)

 

Purses - We purged a few, and then moved the bigger ones on the uppermost shelf. I used a lid rack (yes, as in...for pot & pan lids!) on the left upper shelf to store her smaller purses.

 

Sweaters - Piles are SO hard to keep neat & tidy! But these clip-on shelf dividers help those piles stay in place a bit better.

 

We didn't change the clothes any - though if we had more time, I would have categorized them a bit more. However, I was able to clean out the middle shelf and now it's completely clear!

 

Also, the new baskets on the upper shelf hold her purses & bags now:

Again, we purged a bit - pants on this side - and added shelf dividers to help keep the piles neat. The bottom basket is actually empty right now, because I wanted a place for my client to keep her shorts once they are in season. (Right now, they are being stored on the uppermost shelf in that very long/large Rubbermaid container.) And the new basket up top holds her backpacks.

I'd say that was quite a transformation! It took just a little over 4 hours from start to finish.

Transformation Tuesday: Big Bro to Little Bro Closet

My goal this month is to inspire you to de-clutter at least one space in your home! Of course, if you don't feel like doing it on your own, I would be happy to help. Just comment below to set up a consultation :)

Regardless, I think the best way to inspire people is to show them what's possible.....

 

Here is a toddler's closet that I turned into a nursery closet for his soon-to-be little brother:

*Let's see that "after" shot one more time!*

Ahhhh! You can actually vacuum in there now :)

This client was lucky enough to have TWO closets for her little man, so I designated the one on the left  as the linens / diapers / wipes / miscellaneous closet. And I used chalk labels for the bins up top, which hold bathing suits, crib sheets, and carriers:

 

And in the closet on the right, I cataloged all of big brother's old clothes into large tubs, so that little brother can wear them down the road !! This was a long & tedious process, but it was worth it to create a system for my client that is low-maintenance & easily accessible.

I labeled the bins up top with mini-chalkboards (attached with Velcro) and a chalk pen. These 3 bins house "too small" shoes, mementos, and "too big shoes."

 

I repurposed some Rubbermaid tubs from another room, and used dry-erase labels to identify the clothing size for each tub. It's a pretty simple system, but it's just about finding the time to get started.

 

Call me today if you'd like to see a transformation like this in your house!

Peek Inside: A Professional Organizer's House....{Nate's Room}

It's the last day of the month, and you know what that means....."Peek Inside" time! And since we've been talking about boys' bedrooms all month, today we'll get to look at my son Nate's room.

 Zone 1: Desk & Lego corner. My son is in first grade, and does not have a tremendous amount of homework. (He can knock it out in about 10 minutes, so we just use the kitchen table downstairs.)

So, the main purpose of his desk right now is to:

1). Serve as a work area for building Lego creations and

2). Display his creations.

 He has one tiny drawer in his desk and I've allowed him to keep whatever he wants in there! I hate to call it a "junk drawer," because it's not junk to him. (But it is to me, ha!) I just threw a few drawer organizers in there from the Dollar Tree. I make him go through the drawer every few months when it's getting too cluttered & full.

I did a post earlier this month on storing Legos; click here to view that post. But basically, Nate likes his Legos sorted by BOTH color & set. These plastic drawer systems came from Target & have done the trick so far. As well as more drawer dividers from none other than Dollar Tree.

 Zone 2: Bookshelves. I absolutely adore the built-in bookshelves Nate has in his room. (They came with the house when we moved in 3 years ago; we got really lucky!) And since my son is an avid reader & Lego builder, these shelves provide plenty of storage for both of his passions. Look at the below picture for each corresponding number:

1. All of the book series he has read.
2. Coin collection
3. Bin of action figures & bin of binders with all of his Pokémon cards
4. More Lego display
5. His "nightstand" - a tray corrals the current books he's reading, a booklight, and Kleenex
6. More Lego storage; see second picture down for more detail.

 

Nate's Lego cabinet, where we store larger sets

 

Close-up of the Left side bookshelf

Close-up of the Right side bookshelf

Zone 3: Closet. Nate's closet is the smallest in the house, so we had to get creative on some of his storage.

1. Sleeping bag

2. Basket of quilts

3. Bin for all his cards/mementos

4. Short-sleeve polos

5. Long-sleeve polos & sweaters (aka "church clothes")

6. Bin with extra sheets

7. Bin with Holiday Books (My mom is a retired teacher, so we have 10+ books for every holiday from Valentine's Day to July 4th to Christmas!)

8. Bin with Summer stuff (mostly bathing suits)

9. Bin for clothes that are "Too Small"

10. Play clothes - long-sleeve & sweatshirts

11. Play clothes - pants

12. School uniforms

It's essential to have clothes where your child can reach them easily! (So you don't have to hear "Mooooom! Where's my ______?!") On Nate's lower hanging rack, I have his school uniforms to make mornings go more smoothly, and then he can easily change into play clothes when he comes home.

Close-up of closet bins; I just made a simple label with my labelmaker

 Zone 4: Taekwondo Gear. Nate takes TKD two days a week, so I wanted a place where he can easily find his uniform, as well as keep it wrinkle-free. (They are strict at TKD!)

So there you have it! :)

Let me know your favorite part of Nate's room, as well as a favorite spot in your own son's room!

Nursery Organization Tips

All month long, we're discussing ways to keep you son's room organized, whether he's an infant, first grader, or teenager. (Because goodness knows there are different challenges with each age!)

 

Today, let's concentrate on those baby boys. Now, it's been awhile since my son was an infant, since he was born in August of 2007. But one thing is ALWAYS true about babies & their nurseries....the most important thing they need is storage!! (How come such little people require SO much stuff?!)

Let's start off with some of my tips for organizing your Nursery Closet...
 

1. Buy a hanging organizer. Whether your nursery has a huge or itty bitty closet, you can't go wrong with one of these. They are especially great for storing linens: crib sheets, receiving blankets, burp cloths, bibs, quilts, pack-n-play sheets, changing pad covers, Boppy covers..... (Oh my goodness, I really have forgotten how much crap stuff you need for a baby!)

1 / 2

 

 2. Use clothing dividers. Because everyone likes to buy a new baby clothes (whether it's on the registry or not), it's always smart to have some way to designate different sized clothing in your son's closet. There are a million cute ones you can buy off Etsy, or here are some DIY ones:

{Source}

 3. Utilize the back of the closet door. If space is a premium in your nursery closet, you definitely want to capitalize on any available option! Hooks, rail systems, and hanging canvas organizers are great options.

1 / 2

 4. Think UP! It is key to have a double-hang section in the nursery closet, to utilize all that vertical space! Wal-Mart and Home Depot have very easy-to-install closet systems, if you are in need of one.

 

 

Also, many people shy away from using upper shelves, since they are out of reach (especially if you're a 5'3" shrimp like me)! But they are a great place to store out-of-season clothes, bulk diapers, or even your child's mementos. 

1 / 2 / 3

 5. Use neutral colored bins & baskets. While pale blue is cute for an infant boy, by the time your son is 6, he may want a new color palette in his room :) Try to start with neutrals from the beginning....natural baskets, grays, whites.....because those can grow with your son (& his room) over the years.

1 / 2


 

6. Put furniture inside the closet. (That is, if you have space for it!) Cube storage & plastic pull-out drawer systems are a great way to store things that don't need to be hung....linens, baby carriers, extra bottles, socks, or any miscellaneous items.

1 / 2

7. Create "Too big" and "Too small" bins. I am a mom that loves to shop at consignment sales, as well as sell/consign my kids' clothes. Let me just tell you...these bins are a tremendous help with in those two areas! For example: when I buy something for the next season, it goes in the "Too Big" bin. And when I've decided those shorts are just toooo short, they go in the "Too Small" bin. The "Too Big" bin is also helpful when you get hand-me-downs from family & friends. (Not to mention, my kids have a grandmother than has a wee bit of a shopping addiction...)

{Source}

 That's it for my Nursery Closet tips.

Now let's move onto just a few more General Nursery Organizing Tips....

 

- Make sure to have dim lighting at your changing station, for those middle-of-the-night diaper changes. (Take it from an experienced mom....this is much better than turning on the very bright overhead light at 2 am!)

{Source}

 

- Try to purchase furniture that can grow with your child. For example, the toy bin below can first be used to hold clothing & blankets.....and then toys down the road when your son is older!

1 / 2

- You can use the same idea with your son's changing table. Instead of buying a tradition changing table, just use a dresser! Of course, make sure to secure your baby to the changing pad, or instead, purchase a removable changing table topper (below, right) if possible.

1 / 2

- You can never have too many drawer dividers. Enough said! 

1 / 2 / 3

- Because we all know how squirmy & active babies can be, it's best to have everything you for a diaper change within arm's reach of the changing station. So you don't have to take your eyes (or hands!) off that wiggly baby boy for a second. Shelves, baskets, pegboard, and even hanging diaper organizers can hold all the essentials.

1 / 2 / 3

 

- Find hidden storage spots! Every nursery has them....on the back of the closet door, under the crib & hiding behind the bedskirt, as well as on the back of the bedroom door.

 

1 / 2 / 3

Hope I've answered all your nursery organizing questions and dilemmas! If not, please feel free to leave a comment. Or just tell me YOUR favorite organizing tip in the nursery.



My son's nursery, circa 2008

 

 



Guest Room Closet: Before & After Pictures!

**This month I'm discussing all things KITCHEN on the blog, but let's take a quick time-out from that today. I have got to get something off my chest!**

 

Raise your hand if you have a closet - or space - in your home that is the designated "catch-all" spot?! (I am guessing many of you have your hand raised.) This is pretty common, and I think it's because it's easy.

 

(Notice I didn't say it was lazy. It's just easy! And in this day & age, when you are stressed out from jobs & kids & keeping up the house & being a wife, easy is sometimes what you are looking for.)

 

Well, after awhile, that "catch-all" spot can become a bit overwhelming. Am I right?! That's when it's time to convert your "catch-all" spot to a real organized space with a purpose. But here's the kicker....you have to be willing to never make it a "catch-all" spot again!!

 

I had a recent client who said she was embarrassed to show me her "catch-all" spot. My first reaction.....sadness. You should NEVER be embarrassed to show a Professional Organizer any of your messes. We are there to *HELP*...not to judge!

 

(Because believe me.....I've seen it all. One little closet is not going to shock me!)

 

And so, my client put on her big-girl panties and showed me her closet :) Here is one of the "before" pictures:

 

It's a closet. With a lot of stuff. No big deal! Especially since this client doesn't have an attic space...naturally, this guest room closet just became their makeshift attic. On top of that, she actually didn't give herself enough credit - a few of those bags on the floor were full of kids' clothing, and the outside was labeled with the size! So, some of it was semi-organized!

 

I just stepped in to help her clear the clutter, set up a system for her kids' extra clothing, get rid of clothes her kids had outgrown, and organize a few sewing supplies and odds & ends. And look what we did in just 4 hours!!

 



The pink hangers are 12M size, the white hangers are 18M.
(Hello, my name is Emily & I'm OCD!)



Her husband still has a little work to do....those boxes are his....memorabilia from his "Glory Days" and a couple hundred VHS tapes that he will probably never watch again. So, we will call this side of the closet a "work in progress." :)

 

Here is the simple system we set up for her kids' extra clothing....you know, because when you get a ton of larger clothing from family & friends, it's a blessing but also a curse. You are anxiously waiting for your kids to grow into the clothes, but also wondering where in the world it will all be stored.

My client agreed to pare down a few of the sizes that have multiple tubs (ex. 2T), but that's
something she will work on in her own time over the next few days.

 

So, what do you think???

 

Do you have a "catch-all" spot you'd like me to come help

de-clutter & organize!?