Take Control Organizing

Best Closet Organizing Products! 

In this weeks podcast we gave you all kinds of organizing tips for the closet and a few tips on how to maintain the closet!  As we mentioned in the podcast and I have recommended in the past, it’s important to wait to buy your organizing products until after you have done all of your sorting!  You don’t want to waste your time or money on the wrong product!

With that said, there are some really great closet organizing products on the market.  And when you have a small space to work with you want to utilize it the best you can!  You don’t have to break your budget to make the most out of your closet!

(All of these products are available at The Container Store) You can find most of them at different home stores, like Target, Walmart, Bed,Bath, Beyond, etc.

Here are a few of my favorite items:

Double Hang Closet Rod - If you have a standard closet with just one long bar, this is a great way to double your space.  It’s very affordable and easy to install.

Hanging Sweater Bag – If you lack shelf space, this is a great addition to any closet, you can use it for sweaters, shirts, purses and other accessories.  It’s a great way to utilize vertical space.

Hanging Shoe Bag -  Just like the sweater bag, this is a great way to utilize the vertical space in your closet, plus it gets the shoes off the floor!

8 Hook Wall Mounted Rack - This product is great for the walls of your closet.  You can use it for ties, jewelry or other accessories.  We often forget the walls!  They can also be used for organization!

Over the Door Hook Rack - Another solution for those purses and accessories!

Huggable Hangers - Even if you clothes are not organized, they will look like they are when you have all the same hanger!  It’s an instant way to make an unorganized space look and feel great! These hangers are great, they are slim, which means more space for your clothes!

Happy Organizing! 

Choose Furniture with Storage!

Make the most out of your Family Room by choosing furniture with storage!  It will utilize your space more efficiently and will be keep the clutter contained and at bay!  Especially for small spaces, you want to take advantage of every wall and corner.  By using furniture with multi-purpose will allow you to maximize the space.

There is a lot of items that may go into family room and they all need a place to be stored and contained!

Here are a few examples of furniture with more than just one purpose:

• The antique chest is a beautiful piece which is very decorative and can hold extra blankets, pillows, and even toys!

• The armoire is a perfect example of a piece of furniture that could be used in many different ways.  It could be used as an entertainment center with your TV and gaming system.  It could be used as a home office or a place to store board games and puzzles.

• Coffee tables that have drawers for storage, you can place extra blankets, photo albums, and magazines.

• End tables that have a bottom shelve and drawer, you can place a decorative basket to hold maganizes and books, and the drawer can be used for crossword puzzles, extra pencils, the TV guide.

• Ottomans that open and close – Again, a great place for blankets, toys, and games.

Have you ever heard the expression….  Out of site, Out of mind?

I am sure you have and it can stand true even with jewelry…

I tried the standard jewelry box that looks like a dresser, and maybe for some that works, but I know for me it didn’t, because if I didn’t see it, I didn’t wear it!  The box was kind of awkward too, it didn’t fit in my closet and I didn’t want it on my dresser, so the only place I could find to place it was under my bathroom sink.. again, out of sight, out of mind!

Here are some great tips to consider when organizing and storing your jewelry!

Conduct a needs assessment on yourself: 

• What kind of jewelry person are you? Do you have more necklaces than rings or maybe you only wear earrings.

• Do you have a lot of jewelry?

• Do you wear a lot of jewelry on a pretty consistent basis?

• What pieces are your favorites?

• When was the last time you went through your jewelry?

• How much space do you have to store your jewelry?

• Where do you want to store your jewelry?

Pick the right storage solution for you! 

There are many options for jewelry storage.  You have to think about how much jewelry you own and exactly what you want displayed.  A few options include: standard jewelry boxes, drawer dividers to use the top drawer of a dresser for storage, or ready made jewelry organizers for closets and the back of doors, which you can find at any organizing product store.

The picture above is actually a tie rack, but is being used to store jewelry instead.  You can use a pin board and tack necklaces onto it. Look around your home to see what you have and be creative!   So many options, but remember before buying anything, take the time to go through your jewelry… you may be surprised what you are holding on too and didn’t even realize!  This is a great time to donate, to sell, to give away and clear up the space for the pieces you really love the most.

Additional Tips:

• Do you have a few pieces of jewelry that are your standbys, the pieces you wear most often?  Consider placing these items separately.  Maybe in a decorative bowl or pretty box in your bathroom or closet shelve.

• Do you have certain outfits you only wear certain jewelry with?  Consider placing the necklace with the garment, that way, when you are ready to wear the top, the necklace is there with it.

• If you have very expensive pieces, consider placing these items separately in their own box, and if they are not worn often, place them in a locked safe.

• At least once a year, review your jewelry, sort and purge where necessary, and don’t forget to clean and polish!

Happy Organizing!