Utilize Storage Space with Shelving

Hello HouseHold Tippers!

Today we're talking about using space.

A Great Way to utilize ALL your space is with shelving.
And a Great Place to do this is in your basement/garage/storage area.
The back portion of our basement is for storage, so I went to
Target, and got 'platinum' shelving,
AND LINED THE WALLS OF STORAGE AREA!
That's right, I lined the walls with storage shelving, all in 'platinum',
and got them in varying heights to accommodate as much storage space as the wall allows.

The amount of room that I created is incredible!

I then did the same thing in our washer and dryer room, down in the basement!

Sports Equipment, all tools, and all kitchen stuff that I don't use regularly (Huge pans, special glasses), fits on these shelves!

Then, in the washer and dryer room shelving I have all holiday decorations (except Christmas).  I have a 4th of July shelf, a couple of Easter shelves... you get the idea.  This makes decorating for a holiday easy- no going up in the attic!

Use Shelving- It Makes Life Easier!

Put Your Recycling... AWAY

Today's HouseHold Tip is pretty straight-forward.

Put Your Recycling Away.

Make a Space For it.  And that space shouldn't be the back corner of your kitchen.

Create some room in a pantry or closet or 'mud room'.  I decluttered and organized to make room in one of my kitchen closets- for our recycling bin.  It's very accessible and yet, when you close the door to the closet-
it's gone :)

Note that on the right is where I keep bags to re-use too!

This is very simple, I know.  But I'm blogging it today because I have found sometimes, in my own life,

that when solutions are very simple, 

a.k.a.- I slap my forehead and think, duh,

that they can be overlooked :)

So if you already do this- 

Great for You, you HouseHold Tipper!

If you don't-

do it today,

it doesn't take too much effort,

and makes a world of difference :)

Happy HouseHold Tips!

Evaluate Your Space- in Drawers and Closets

Last Week was Decluttering Week on HouseHold Tips Blog.

In Keeping with Decluttering, we're talking about
drawers and closets today- and organizing,
because decluttering and organizing
go hand-in-hand.

First of all, closet and drawer organization are not static.  You can/should
re-evaluate how you are USING YOUR SPACE in closets and drawers
from time to time.

The BEST way, in my opinion, to organize closets and drawers,

is to EVALUATE Your Space...

Based on FREQUENCY OF USE. 

How often do I use this?

What do I use it for?

A perfect example is a kitchen closet/pantry/shelving.

I recently re-evaluated one of my kitchen closets where I store platters and special dishes and special pots.  I found I was overloading that space with 'specialty stuff' that I don't use every day or even once a week.  

So I went through every shelf, 

*and things that I rarely use went downstairs, 

*things that I don't use frequently went on the top shelf,

*things that I do use frequently went on the middle shelf,

*and things I use EVERY DAY,

went on the bottom shelf, 

which is chest-high, so readily available,

like- wipes, trashbags, GladWare containers and lunchbags.

This way, things I use every day are easy to grab,

and not stuffed in a corner;

everything is easy to find!

Remember: FREQUENCY OF USE

It'll make your Life Easier!

Happy Households!

The Fourth Step of DeCluttering

Hello HouseHold Tippers!


We Continue our Decluttering Week Here by Tackling 
the Last, and Perhaps,
the Hardest part of Decluttering-

4.  Evaluate Tchotchkes... and say, 'Good Bye'

Tchotchkes, Typically pronounced as 'Chach-Kees', (also the name of the restaurant where 'Joanna' played by Jennifer Aniston, works in the movie, 'Office Space'- where she is forced to wear 'flair'.)

just take up space.

Tchotchkes usually start off as things with a 

little bit of sentiment,

and are put on a shelf.

But then they just sit there,

and they sit there so long,

that you forget about them,

and just accept them as 'part of a room'

or part of your decorating.

I'm all for keeping sentimental treasures...

but YOU MUST

EVALUATE Tchotchkes from Time to Time.

Do I love this?

Why I do Want this?

Does this Add Something to my Room,

or Has it Become Clutter?

It's Good to Do this Same Exercise 

in even Storage Areas, like your basement...

Why am I saving this?

How often do I use this?

When was the last time I used this?

Take it slow at first,

if you need to,

but I guarantee,

once you start,

It's Liberating,

and feels very, very good!

Happy HouseHolds!

The Third Step of Decluttering

Decluttering Week Continues Here!

Today we talk about the Third Step of Decluttering-

3.  Remember, Everything Has A Place

If it doesn't have a place, make a place for it and put it away;

If you can't find a place for it,

It Has To Go.

As I wrote in my First Post about Decluttering, Everything Must Have a Place.

Use your drawers and closets, re-organize them.

Use All Your Space.

Another Post I Did, gives a Good Example of Using Coat Closet Space.

See?  Use ALL Your Space.  Even the little space in the middle of this coat closet,

between the end of the coats and the floor,

is being used.

So there you go!

You have more room than you think!

Go DeClutter :)

The Second Step of Decluttering

Hello HouseHold Tippers!


We're breaking down Decluttering this week with Basics.


Today, the second step of Decluttering-

2.  Put Baskets 'Away'

Yesterday, we talked about using baskets as 'places to put things'.

Today,

we go to the next step-

Put those baskets, 'away', on a shelf, have a 'place' for your baskets.

 

There, that was easy!

The First Step Of Decluttering

Welcome to 'Decluttering Week' here at HouseHoldTipsBlog!


Decluttering is a never-ending Household Job,


But the good news is:


It's easy if you just break-it-down...


So that's what we are doing this week;


 Let's go!

1.  Use Baskets

Baskets are a first step in Decluttering (especially if you are a Mom, like me).

Toys don't have to be everywhere, and supplies that you use everyday don't have to be left out.  Put them in a basket, or just throw them in a basket.  Baskets give  EVERYTHING - A Place.  

And that's a Big Rule of Decluttering:

Everything must have a place to be put away.

And P.S.- Invest in Nice Baskets, that are similar or match... 

it brings your room together... easily :)

Another Great Linen Closet Solution... Use White!

I've gotten a lot of response about my post on rolling your towels in the linen closet... people love the idea!  Here's another great solution to organizing towels and linens-

Use white!

If you use white towels for your bathrooms, and especially for spare towels (for company, etc.)... THEY ALWAYS MATCH!

HOLD ON- I know what you're thinking... 'White?!  How do I keep them clean and crisp?'

Since they are all white- you can throw them in the washer WITH BLEACH,

No Harm,

No Foul,

No Problem!

Thank You to Kristin,  a great Mom and extraordinary 'HouseHold Tipper'-

for this great idea...

She's so smart!

Always Improving Containers

It's great to re-use and conserve...

BUT, every so often, you should evaluate your containers.

Case in point:  my nail box to the left.

I use this all the time to touch up my nails.  And now, because HouseHold Tips are always on my mind, I thought-

"Wow.  This is old, dusty, filled with things I don't use (old bottles of nail polish) and too big."

SO, I happen to have an extra container (the 1 on the right) and transferred the nail items I do use to that

Smaller,

Cuter,

and more efficient container.

It takes up less room in the closet!

It's great to have a container for everything.

Just remember, once you have a container, your work is not done,

you can even improve your containers,

to fit your lifestyle changes.

Have a great day!

Use Up Your Kitchen Pantry!

Let's talk today about economizing, efficiency... as well as, BEING GREEN!  You can do these 3 things quite easily- by simply using up your kitchen pantry!

All that stuff you have in your pantry- take it all out and make some new recipes for dinner!  Gravy packets, crackers, rice... whatever!

This is also a great way to declutter!!  Yey, another bonus!!

And thank you to one of my favorite Eco-Friendly Bloggers for originally giving me this idea over a year ago; I LOVE THIS IDEA and do it every few months!  It's fantastic!

And check out The Green PhoneBooth for more GREEN IDEAS !!

Decluttering

We're going to talk a lot on this blog about 'Decluttering'.  

Why?  Because I hear about it a lot.  

It seems to be hard for some people, 

but I'm here to tell you it's not!

We'll get into details in other posts, but to start-

For Decluttering you only need to do 2 Things-

1.  This first one is psychological.  A lot of people are comforted by having 'stuff'.  Concentrate on yourself, not your 'stuff'.  'Stuff' is just that- stuff.  Any items in your home that do not do anything, serve a purpose, or are not decorative-

You Do Not Need.

Give them to charity or throw them out!  Take a deep breath, and repeat.  Give them to charity or throw them out!

2.  Have a Place for Everything.  That's it.  

Have a place for everything.  And don't have it be the counters.  Everything should be put away, so everything should have somewhere to be put.

This 2nd one involves the big secret of decluttering, so I'll whisper it...

shhhhhh-     being organized     -shhhhhh   

You need to organize your drawers and closets so you have somewhere for things to be 'put away'.  Do not worry, we will tackle those things and more on this blog!

Just think about those 2 things today-  *you don't need 'stuff' and *have a place for everything.

Happy Households!