So you live in a small apartment or house, and space is at a premium. Maybe you've recently downsized the location, but not your possessions. You have too much stuff, and you can't find a place for everything. It looks cluttered and you are tired of it. Is there a solution for getting organized in a small space, but still having an attractive home? Of course there is!
Kids Storage Organizers
The trend towards streamlining and paring down is becoming more and more prevalent in today's housing market - both out of necessity, and preference in many cases. People are enjoying a simpler, less-cluttered lifestyle and want to reflect that in their homes, as well. But many families and individuals come with a lot of "stuff" - possessions that they've had for years, things they've inherited or accumulated, or spoils from a shopping war. Lots of stuff is following them into the smaller space, and there's no place for it.
Kids Storage Organizers
Before you can organize and attractively display the things you need and love, you must pare it down to a manageable size. Let's say you have recently moved from a 4-bedroom, 2-bath home, into a 2-bedroom, 1-bath home. Your kids are now married and gone, and you just don't need that much space anymore. And yet -- every closet in the house is full, there's furniture in every square inch, and you have no idea how to fit all of that into your new, smaller place. Obviously, you will have to get rid of some stuff, unless you enjoy climbing over mountains and valleys to get to the door! You don't, or you wouldn't be here reading this.
This is a great time to PURGE. If you have clothing that you haven't worn in 6 months - donate. Those shelves and boxes of books that you've already read and have no intention of reading again - move 'em out. The cowboy bunk-bed that your 22 year-old son slept in as a kid - yard sale. You get the idea. There isn't going to be room for you to keep everything, and if you don't wear it, read it, or love it, you don't NEED it. You have a lot of options available - yard sales, charity donations, websites that pick up donated items, online stores, recycling. The hardest part of getting rid of things isn't logistical - it's emotional. Really examine your life - the reason you are in a smaller space, the things that bring joy to your life and the things that stress you out. Having more stuff than you can handle really is a burden every time you look at the clutter. So begin this new step in your life by purging.
Once you're down to a manageable amount of possessions - it's time to get it organized, and keep it organized. Let's use the bathroom as an example. Your old bathroom had a nice long counter, with 3 drawers, and a medicine cabinet on the wall. Your new bathroom? A sink, toilet and shower. No drawers, a tiny counter, and no medicine cabinet. Now what do you do? Take inventory. Your bathroom should be a room that immediately says "clean and serene" when you walk in. Keeping clutter down in this small space will be mandatory to evoking those feelings. Only have what you need in here. The shampoos and soaps should be in the shower/tub area. If there's no shelf in there, you can get an inexpensive one that hangs over the shower head or attaches to the shower wall. So what else is a must-have in the bathroom? Obviously, your toiletries. If there's no counter space, and no drawers or cabinets under the sink, try using a hanging shoe bag. This can be hung on the back of the door, and most of them have 12-16 pockets. Keep your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, cotton balls, hairbrush, etc. in these items. Because they're behind the door, they are basically out of sight, and will keep your bathroom looking fresh. For other items that you may need to keep handy, get a small wicker basket and place it on the floor beside your toilet - after all, running out of toilet paper is no fun - keep it close by.
The kitchen is another area that can cause you major headaches with space. If you've been used to having all the counter and cabinet space you need, and find yourself with much less than you're used to, you know the first step is to purge. This may not be as easy as it was with the clothes and books, and you may end up having to store some really nice things (like your Grandmother's china or your Cuisinart tools) with family or friends temporarily. But for the day-to-day kitchen operations, once you've purged, you need to get creative with organizing options. Here are a few:
If cabinets are at a premium, make sure you are stacking things in the most efficient way possible. Biggest and least-used items on the bottom of the stack and on the highest shelf.
Keep things as close to the area you use them as possible - glasses near the fridge, plates near the stove, etc.
Don't forget that your fridge can be a storage area too! Many people have more space in the fridge that they aren't using, and you can keep things like flour, sugar, baking supplies, spices, etc. in there, and free up some cabinet space.
Displaying cute knick-knacks is a space killer. Save them for that designer kitchen in your future dream house! Only keep out what you need and use daily.
Hang things - pots, pans, baskets for potatoes and onions. When you can't go horizontal, go up!
Once you've found a space for everything, and pared down to only the essentials, keep it organized. Spending just 5 minutes a day to tidy up your kitchen, bathroom, or office will not only keep your stress level down, it will help that small space look and feel fresh and you will keep your sanity!
Staying Sane in a Small Space - How to Keep Yourself Organized When You Don't Have Much Room
Kids Storage Organizers
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