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Stef’s favorite organizing tips.
Tips for an Organized Coat Closet
Ok, let's talk coat closets.
For me, the coat closet is one of the more challenging spaces because we go into regularly, but it's not an important place for us. So I rarely care to take extra time to make it "pretty" or appealing. However, when it comes to the morning rush, I don't want to spend an extra second in there looking for shoes or a lone glove that's somehow wandered off. A functional coat closet is key, especially when little hands are reaching into it, or even big grown up adult hands.
How to Have an "Organized" Morning with Toddlers
Let's be clear Morning + Toddlers ≠ Organized. Ever. But I have found little tricks that help our mornings go a bit smoother. Some days they work, some days they don’t. I still find it's worth it to try. So, while I cannot guarantee a stress free morning, or being on time anywhere ever again, I can say that these small tips can help make mornings less chaotic, a tad less stressful, and possibly save you a few minutes in your morning.
Perfect Pantry Organization
Let's talk about the most popular place in your home, the pantry. It gets more attention than almost any other space, and thus is one of the most difficult spaces to organize and keep organized. However there are ways to avoid complete chaos in the space. Here are some simple tips for creating an organized pantry and maintaining it.
Organized Beach Bag
I've never lived near a beach. We spent our summers either at the pool or Cumberland lake in Kentucky. So having the option to take my kids to the beach for the morning is totally foreign to me. It took some getting used to when figuring out what to pack each trip. After lots of trial and error, here are the items I pack into my beach bag every trip.
Top Reasons We Avoid Organizing
I think much like exercising, organizing it easy for some, and incredibly difficult for others. I am someone who has to force myself to exercise, and I can think of a million excuses why not to workout. But if I constantly listen to all of those reasons, I'll never get the reward I desire. So I thought I'd share some common reasons (in my experience) people don't take on an organizing project, and how to overcome it.
Organizing Children's Toys
Over the course of the past year, I've been asked repeatedly for tips and tricks in organizing children's toys. It's something that I think most moms stress about. Although I only have about 1.5 years of experience in organizing my child's toys, there are some methods that I have found helpful and that save my sanity, which is critical when caring for tiny humans. Separating toys into categories, using containers and labels, and having toys in every room (read more for details), are three simple ways I have been able to tackle the chaos of toys.
How to Quickly Shop at IKEA
The first time I went to IKEA I went with my sister and I'm pretty sure we both broke out in hives, sweated profusely, and nearly had panic attacks. We made the mistake of going to the new (at the time) IKEA in southwest Ohio, on a weekend, in the middle of the day. To say it was overwhelming is a gross understatement. Since this original trip, I have been to IKEA numerous times and dare I say it, nearly mastered the quick, stress-free IKEA shopping experience. Following these simple steps—as well as knowing about one of the biggest kept secrets in all IKEA stores—will get you in and out in about as much time as it takes to say "wtf" to any IKEA assembly instructions.
The Vertical Fold: Pros and Cons
I was a skeptic. For years I was against the vertical fold. I felt it was more hassle than it's worth and it didn't seem functional. It looks amazing in a drawer, but it seemed to me that if you remove one item the entire system would collapse. Today I will share the pros and cons of the vertical fold, and when it works and when it doesn't.
The Best Hangers for an Organized Closet
Believe it or not, the hangers you use play a huge role in how organized your closet is. There are some great hangers out there that can completely transform your space, and there are also hangers that take up so much room it can make it difficult for your clothes to even have space.
Over the past several years, I've experimented with numerous different hangers in our closets. Mainly because I'm a glutton for a good sale and hangers always look so lovely when they're packaged with perfect images on the box. However, through this experimentation, I have also found many hanger failures and disappointments. So here are the top hangers I have found that work best to keep your closet organized, spacious, and stress-free, depending on budget and closet space.
Controlling Clutter in 15 Minutes {or 45 depending on children}
A few weeks ago I talked about how I organized our paper files. I'll be honest, I'm still a little exhausted from that post. There is so much information out there and trying to narrow it down into a post that someone will actually be inclined to read felt near impossible. Good news is I never actually know if you "read" posts or not, so I will live in this blissful world where you all read it and loved it.
Anyway, what I didn't share with you is that I actually ended up organizing our entire command center (our nickname for this little desk area in our kitchen). Here's a little peek into what it was looking like on that particular day.
